MOLINARD

The Story of a Perfumer since 1849


The Maison Molinard was founded in 1849 in Grasse, Provence, in the south of France, cradle of the world's perfume industry. It has remained an entirely family-run business to this day, and is also the oldest of its kind. At that time, Molinard produced floral waters and Eaux de Cologne, which it sold in its "little shop" in the town centre.

In 1860 Molinard began creating new fragrances: after "Jasmin" and "Rose" came "Mimosa" and "Violette" in discreet, elegant bottles made of Baccarat crystal.

In 1891, Queen Victoria stayed at Grasse, and bought Eaux de Cologne there.

In 1900, the company moved into an old perfume factory, where the distillery structure was designed by Gustave Eiffel. Molinard is still there today. A typical Provençal showroom was set up, and its first customers were wealthy foreigners from England and Russia. They came to admire its magnificent collection of 17th and 18th century furniture, and buy Molinard eaux de Cologne together with all its floral fragrances.

1921 was a momentous year, when Molinard launched two products that are still popular today. Firstly, the famous Habanita ? originally marketed to perfume cigarettes - which in 1924 became "the most tenacious perfume in the world", and secondly, Concréta, the first solid perfume: "natural flower wax used directly as a perfume".

Stimulée par ses réussites la Maison fait appel au célèbre maître verrier René Lalique qui créera et signera pour Molinard les splendides flacons "Iles d'Or" en 1930, "Madrigal" en 1930, "Le baiser du faune" en 1932, etc.

In 1920, the famous bottle-designer Viard created a number of outstanding designs for the company.

Durant les années folles les cristalleries de Baccarat font pour Molinard les "7 diamants de la couronne", "Xmas Bell", "le Parfum des Parfums" "Diamant..."

1935-1945: the Second World War was a difficult period. Molinard invented "The Prisoner's Parcel" to provide a touch of comfort to French soldiers.

1949: for Molinard's centenary, a superb brochure was printed by Draeger with lavish photos of the finest bottles by Lalique, Baccarat and other famous glassmakers of the time. Today this booklet is worth its weight in gold in bookstores?

1950... à nos jours :
There is so much to tell you!!!!
Venez nous rendre visite à Grasse, Nice ou à Lille, vous en saurez plus sur la belle histoire de Molinard, cent soixante cinq ans ne se racontent pas en une page sur le Net...