I’m sure when you think of Provence, you picture lavender fields stretching to the horizon, sun-warmed stone villages and long lunches beneath the shade of olive trees. But for the French, Provence is also a place experienced through scent. The herbs at the market, citrus trees, fresh linen and, of course, flowers.
In this edition of The French Edit, we're taking you to the South of France to explore what Provence reveals about the French's love of scent, beauty and the simple pleasures of everyday life.
Welcome to this olfactory love story frenchies!
Provence, Through French Eyes
Ask a French person where they'd go to escape for a few days, and chances are Provence will be high on the list!
Provence represents a certain idea of French living. With more than 300 days of sunshine a year, life here naturally happens outdoors. I’m talking about long lunches that turn into late afternoons with Petanque games. Market mornings with no particular agenda. Shuttered stone houses that stay cool in the summer heat. Life simply feels slower here.
From the Mediterranean coast to the hilltop villages scattered across the countryside, there's an easy rhythm to life here. People take their time, and even the local accent (who sound like a song) seems to do the same.
And for many French people, Provence isn't just a holiday destination. It's a place associated with emotions and memories such as childhood summers and family gatherings.
And perhaps more than anywhere else in France, it's a region that is experienced through the senses.
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Why Scent Matters So Much to the French
To understand why the French take perfume so seriously, we have to start where it all began.
Long before fragrance became a global industry, scent was already woven into everyday life in the South of France. Blessed with a sunny Mediterranean climate, Provence has always been rich in colour and scent. From lavender fields to jasmine and orange blossom, the region offered an abundance of natural ingredients.
But the French relationship with scent goes far beyond perfume itself. In France, fragrance is often seen as an extension of one's personality. Rather than constantly switching between trends, many French people spend years searching for a “niche” signature scent that feels uniquely their own.
This connection to scent is also deeply woven into the French Art de Vivre. Think of the aroma of warm bread drifting from a local bakery, freshly brewed coffee in the morning, the bustle of a market day at the local cheesemonger, or the scent of pine forests, ocean air and countryside walks. These familiar scents are more than simple memories. They help shape a feeling of identity, heritage and attachment to the places and traditions that define French life.
And nowhere is this connection more evident than in Provence, home to the town of Grasse, widely considered the birthplace of modern perfumery.
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Grasse: The Birthplace of Modern Perfumery
Perched in the hills above the French Riviera, Grasse is a small Provençal town with an outsized influence on the world of fragrance. For centuries, its sunny climate and fertile landscape have made it the perfect place to grow some of perfumery's most treasured flowers, from jasmine and rose centifolia to orange blossom and tuberose.
Grasse's story began in the Middle Ages, when the town was known for its leather industry. To mask the strong smell of tanned leather, local artisans began scenting gloves with flowers and aromatic plants. What started as a practical solution soon evolved into an art form that would later become the modern perfume industry.
Today, Grasse remains the beating heart of French perfumery thanks to the exceptional craftsmanship of local artisans. Many of the world's most prestigious fragrance houses such as Dior, Chanel and Fragonard continue to source ingredients from the region, preserving a savoir-faire that has been passed down for centuries.
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The French Beauty Edit: What Provence Reveals About French Beauty
If Paris is known for its polished elegance, Provence is all about natural beauty.
Life in the South is mainly outdoor. As a result, beauty routines tend to be simple and practical. Hydration is non-negotiable, sunscreen is part of the daily routine, and products made with local ingredients such as lavender, olive oil and botanical extracts have long had a place in bathroom cabinets.
There's also a strong trust in French pharmacies. In Provence, where generations often live side by side, skincare advice is passed down as much through pharmacists as it is through mothers and grandmothers.
As a French woman, these are the products I'd pack for a summer in Provence:
- Immortelle Precious Enriched Emulsion 75ml L’Occitane: To keep skin deeply hydrated while leaving a soft, silky finish.
- Sun-Kissed Glow Booster Serum La Crique: To enhance my tan and get that effortless no-foundation look
- L'Olivier Natural Deodorant Panier des Sens: One I probably stole from my boyfriend... oops
- Eau de Parfum Charmante Madier: To smell incredibly chic and get stopped at the market by someone asking what perfume I'm wearing. The perfect excuse to tell them it's French and niche..yay
- Un Musc Travel Spray Obvious: To add a touch of heaven on the go
The Ingredients That Smell Like Provence
You know how the French love food, right? So of course the sensory experience of Provence continues at the table. Tomatoes, olive oil, tapenade, grilled fish and chilled rosé wines are at the heart of the region's colourful Mediterranean cuisine.
And what better way to experience Provence than through one of its most iconic ingredients: lavender.
Lavender & Honey Tart Recipe
For the pastry:
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200g plain flour
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100g cold unsalted butter, diced
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50g caster sugar
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1 egg yolk
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2 tbsp cold water
For the filling:
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250ml thick cream
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2 eggs
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80g honey
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1 tsp culinary dried lavender
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1 tsp vanilla extract
How to do it:
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Preheat the oven to 180° C
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Whisk together the cream, eggs, honey and lavender
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Pour into the tart shell
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Bake for 25 minutes until golden and just set
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Let cool and serve with a drizzle of honey
Le Bulletin: What’s On France In July & August
While Australia is still battling winter, France is in full summer mode in July and August. The French call it les grandes vacances. We call it the national sport of not working lol
Bastille Day 14 July
The French may be known for starting every sentence with "non" and we like to think it comes from their revolutionary spirit. So every 14 July, the country celebrates Bastille Day with military parades and fireworks. In Paris, all eyes turn to the Eiffel Tower for one of the most spectacular fireworks displays of the year.
Festival d'Avignon (5–26 July)
Every summer, the medieval city of Avignon transforms into France's theatre capital. Founded in 1947, the Festival d'Avignon is one of the world's most important performing arts festivals, attracting actors, directors and theatre lovers from across the globe.
For three weeks, the city's streets, squares and historic venues come alive with hundreds of performances, from classical theatre to contemporary productions. Even if you've never set foot in a theatre before, the atmosphere alone is worth experiencing!
French Lesson to order wine, the provençal way!
In Provence, wine is precious. So if you find yourself sitting on a terrace, you can say:
“What wine do you recommend?”
> Vous nous conseillez quel vin ?
“We’ll take a bottle of rosé”
> On va prendre une bouteille de rosé
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A little royalty gossip before you go
While Catherine de Medici is often credited with helping popularise perfume at the French court, her marriage was anything but a fairytale. Her husband, King Henry II, famously preferred the company of his longtime mistress, Diane de Poitiers. Rather than fighting it, Catherine made the best of an often humiliating situation, graciously accepting Diane's constant presence at court. After all, revenge is best served by eventually becoming Queen of France. Slay queen!
x Bisous bisous x
From Your Gossip Frenchies.