Do you have any idea what goatskin gloves smelled like in the 16th century? Very bad. Borderline putrid.
Almost like a dead goat. Also lye. And since the French city of Grasse was all about selling leather goods,
it was a real problem for the residents. As the story goes, Catherine de Medici let it be known that she was a big fan of her sweet-smelling gloves,
and soon Grasse couldn't scent her skin fast enough. After a while, the city became more ambitious in using
the power of smell: Why not try growing flowers and plants from other parts of the world?
Jasmine and tuberose and especially rose. It turns out they all thrived in these hills,
about 12 miles north of present-day Cannes. Today, if you've ever heard anything about Grasse,
it's probably because it's the "cradle" or "birthplace" or "capital" of perfumery. Choose.