An emblematic city in the history of perfume in France since the 18th century, and home to the Institut Supérieur International du Parfum (Isipca) and the Osmothèque, an international perfume conservatory, Versailles is still the meeting place for the world’s greatest perfumers.
Inaugurated on May 15, 2013, the Cour des Senteurs brings together in one place the rarest fragrances, traditions, know-how and raw materials that make up the world of perfumes.
We spent a memorable afternoon discovering this magical place, which we highly recommend you visit.
Situated 100 meters from the Château, this open-access site boasts an original concept designed as a sensory walk through the art of perfume. The Maison des Parfums, an open-access educational space designed by architect and scenographer Philippe Pumain, opens onto the Jardin des Senteurs, a 3,600-square-meter public garden redesigned as a perfumer’s garden by landscape architect Nicolas Gilsoul, featuring cabinets of curiosities to introduce visitors to the language and fetish materials of the perfumer, botanical collections and bushwalks through the theatrical world of fragrances.
Four great names representing French expertise and excellence – Guerlain, Lenôtre, diptyque and Maison Fabre – have joined the project, setting up stores and workshops with original concepts, showcasing fragrances and scents.
We begin our visit with the Maison des Parfums and the Jardin des Senteurs. A lovely little museum presenting the history of perfume through the ages. Here you’ll find an imposing perfume fountain.
Then you’ll find several renowned houses.
DIPTYQUE presents a new, delicate repertoire of scents for the home, built as an ode to gardens and beautiful raw materials. Seemingly simple, each fragrance is in fact a sophisticated reinvention of nature.
As part of its new boutique in Versailles, diptyque is offering an exclusive boxed set of three mini-candles, in harmony with the Jardin des Senteurs.
A visionary and passionate perfumer, diptyque has been offering off-the-beaten-track creations since 1961, the better to delight loyal initiates and enlightened connoisseurs the world over.
Perfumes for the house are imbued with a distinctive and singular olfactory signature, woven from the finest raw materials. In a quest for beauty without ostentation, and with an obsession for the finest finishing touches, diptyque advocates an idea of ultimate luxury that can be intuitively breathed in. www.diptyqueparis.fr
GUERLAIN Since 1828, Guerlain’s creative audacity could be summed up in a few words: to make the art of beauty a true art of living, and to respond to modernity with creativity. The new Guerlain boutique unveils a brand-new concept that blends know-how and the history of the House with art and creative craftsmanship. Unique works of art echo the radiance of Versailles, with carved woodwork and precious marble dotting the spaces devoted to perfumes, skincare and make-up. Guerlain perfumer Thierry Wasser pays tribute to Queen Marie-Antoinette, whose favorite flower was jasmine, and dedicates a perfume to her, available exclusively at the Cour des Senteurs. Also worth discovering are the olfactory workshops.
We were able to attend one of these marvellous workshops in conjunction with Maison Lenôtre, combining the pleasure of the taste buds with the pleasure of the nose. What a pleasure to immerse ourselves in the history of this illustrious house www.guerlain.com
MAISON FABRE showcases its creations inspired by the tradition of perfuming glove makers.
For the opening of its new boutique in the Cour des Senteurs, Maison Fabre presents its first collection of perfumed leather goods and gloves.
The glove maker unveils its first perfumed glove: a long glove with the top of the hand in beige velvet lambskin and the underside in silk-lined black full-grain lambskin. Retail price 290 euros.
With the “nécessaire de poche”, all gloves can be perfumed.
Maison Fabre made Grace Kelly’s gloves, and recently produced twenty pairs for Nicole Kidman, who plays the Princess of Monaco in Grace of Monaco, scheduled for release on March 19, 2014, opening the 67th Cannes Film Festival.
Also on display are the magnificent gloves from Beauty and the Beast.
LENÔTRE offers the latest sweet and savoury creations from its Chefs: chocolates, pastries… that have earned the House its worldwide reputation. Don’t miss the glittering macaroon with a runny heart of jasmine flower jam, a nod to Marie-Antoinette’s favorite flower. Gourmet treats, to take away or enjoy on the premises for a gourmet break.
A modern gastronomic institution, Maison Lenôtre, founded in 1957, embodies the elegance and rigor of French luxury throughout the world. Its activities make it a key player in the world of gastronomy: boutiques to offer the very best in takeaway cuisine, organization of receptions and exceptional events to meet the needs of an increasingly demanding clientele, know-how to train and advise both professionals and amateurs at the prestigious Ecole Lenôtre. www.lenotre.com
Discover this perfume paradise!
Boutiques and Maison des Parfums open Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00 am to 7:00 pm
Special opening hours on Sundays: Lenôtre (10:00 am to 7:00 pm), Guerlain (11:00 am to 7:00 pm), diptyque and Maison Fabre (12:00 pm to 7:00 pm)
Jardin des Senteurs open Monday to Sunday, 8:30 am to 9:00 pm
Free access
Access :
– By car, from Paris: via the A13 freeway, 1st exit Versailles Château, then follow Château de Versailles. Parking place d’Armes or Saint-Louis
– RER C: Versailles Château Rive Gauche stop (5/8 minute walk)
– SNCF train:
– From Paris Saint- Lazare to Versailles Rive Droite station (10/15 minute walk)
– From Paris Montparnasse to Versailles Chantiers station (10/15 minute walk)
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