Institute field trip 2017, 12.05.2017

In Grasse, the world capital of fragrances, we visited the historic perfume factory, Fragonard, on Friday morning. At the beginning of the tour we were able to test our sense of smell and try to recognize various scents.

Photo of the city of Grasse

© Ernst Kozeschnik

Photo of the city of Grasse

In the basic training to become a perfumer, 300 smells must be recognized and described. A professional "nose", as the best perfumers are called, can distinguish 3000 to 4000 smells. Of the 1000 "noses" worldwide, 50 "noses" create new fragrance mixtures in Grasse.

Photo in the parfum museum in the city of Grasse

© Ernst Kozeschnik

Photo in the parfum museum in the city of Grasse

Furthermore, it was explained to us that natural fragrances are obtained from the crushed raw material by distillation, maceration, enfleurage, extraction or by pressing (expression).

Photo in the parfum museum in the city of Grasse

© Dagmar Fischer

Photo in the parfum museum in the city of Grasse

extraction plant

Photo in the parfum museum in the city of Grasse

© Dagmar Fischer

Photo in the parfum museum in the city of Grasse

still apparatus

Photo in the parfum museum in the city of Grasse

© Dagmar Fischer

Photo in the parfum museum in the city of Grasse

In a perfume, a distinction is made between three fragrance notes that evaporate at different speeds: top note, heart note and base note. The top note is the fragrance that is noticeable in the first few minutes after application to the skin. The heart note, which is perceptible for one day, is responsible for the actual fragrance character of a perfume. The base note is the fragrance that comes out last. It contains long-lasting, heavy-duty fragrances that can last for a week.

Photo of the city of Grasse

© Ernst Kozeschnik

Photo of the city of Grasse

After visiting the perfume factory we had enough time to see Grasse,

Photo of the city of Grasse

© Dagmar Fischer

Photo of the city of Grasse

before we set off individually by bus to Nice.

Photo from the port in Nice

© Dagmar Fischer

Photo from the port in Nice

Photo of the evening mood on the beach in Nice

© Ernst Kozeschnik

Photo of the evening mood on the beach in Nice

On our last evening we were able to try out various homemade olive oil varieties during an excellent dinner together in the "Oliviera" restaurant, true to the motto "Olio al Olio".

Photo of the dinner at the Oliviera restaurant in Nice

© Dagmar Fischer

Photo of the dinner at the Oliviera restaurant in Nice

Photo of the dinner at the Oliviera restaurant in Nice

© Dagmar Fischer

Photo of the dinner at the Oliviera restaurant in Nice

The culmination of a successful trip was a shorter or, for some, longer exploration of the nightlife in Nice.

Photo in a disco in Nice

© Aurelie Jacob

Photo in a disco in Nice