I’m in Provence this week teaching the Art of Perfume course. One of the sessions will take place in the garden created by the legendary perfumer Edmond Roudnitska. Situated in Cabris, it’s maintained by his son Michel Roudnitska, the creator of Parfums DelRae Bois de Paradis and Frédéric Malle Noir Épices who also keeps the tradition alive by running Roudnitska’s Art et Parfum lab and studio.
It’s a marvelous place to visit for anyone interested in modern perfumery, fragrant gardens and history. Above you can see the view from Edmond Roudnitska’s office. How could anyone not have created masterpieces in front of such a splendid view.
Roudnitska personally selected plants to reflect different aromatic profiles and complementary blooming schedules, and the garden is a sensory experience in all seasons. My photos below are from late spring. Once I return home, I will share the early spring images.
And finally, here is one of my favorite photographs of Edmond Roudnitska in his garden.
I look forward to meeting some of you there!
Photography by Bois de Jasmin. The image of Edmond Roudnitska via the Roudnitska archive.
19 Comments
Carla: How wonderful. Lucky those who attend the course. Provence is so beautiful. Diorella, old and new, and Le Parfum de Therese, and also Juvilation 25 are some of my favorite perfumes. Roudnitska just seems so romantic. Although I wouldn’t describe those perfumes as particularly romantic, but to me, the epitome of feminine. Thanks for sharing the photos April 5, 2017 at 7:55am
Andy: What a paradise! Enjoy your teaching this week. April 5, 2017 at 8:28am
Caroline: What lovely images–am enjoying them on this dreary rainy day. So envious of everyone attending the Provence Art of Perfume event, hope to participate one of these days! Fave Roudnitska is Diorama–have a couple of vintage ebay-aquired bottles–really should go apply some right now! April 5, 2017 at 9:30am
JCW: Love this. Hope you teach again in the future so I can learn from you in person! April 5, 2017 at 10:00am
MMKinPA: How beautiful! I am somewhat embarrassed that I have never sniffed any of Roudnitska’s perfumes. A serious gap in my perfume knowledge! April 5, 2017 at 10:03am
Bina: Hi, I wish I could attend the Art of Perfume course, sometime! Can you advice how I can attend, please? April 5, 2017 at 10:11am
Phyllis Iervello: I have a few of Roudnitska’s perfumes and they are masterpieces even if they don’t suit everyone. These photos are absolutely breath-taking! April 5, 2017 at 10:17am
Nick: I hope to see the legendary patch of lilies of the valley one day. I heard that Edmond Roudnitska would ruminate on a smelling strip for days, and I bet he did the same thing on the muguets in his garden. April 5, 2017 at 10:43am
DelRae ROTH: Truly a dream garden and fabulously inspiring place. I treasure my time spent there and look forward to another visit. Victoria, your photographs are beautiful. thank you so much and I am looking forward to your next post!
xoxo DelRae April 5, 2017 at 11:45am
Tatiana: What a gorgeous view. How many kilometers away is the sea? I have a few of those plants in my garden. April 5, 2017 at 12:10pm
Robert H.: Ugh. Gorgeous. I can’t even…… April 5, 2017 at 12:51pm
Austenfan: That view makes me happy! Hope you will have fun! April 5, 2017 at 1:07pm
Notturno7: Beautiful photos 💖 you’re very talented dear V!
My husband and I drove through the area two years ago and I was wondering where those gardens were.I loved the description in Perfums The Guide how a masterpiece Diorissimo was created.
Have a great week and a wonderful course! April 5, 2017 at 2:08pm
Old Herbaceous: Wish I was there! Diorissimo, take me away! April 5, 2017 at 7:58pm
Bobbie: Gorgeous! This does not surprise me that the creator of Le parfum de Thérèse lived here! What a lush landscape to inspire an equally lush perfume! After blowing through at least three decants in the past six years, my love for it is still going strong! Time for a full bottle, it seems! April 5, 2017 at 9:13pm
rickyrebarco: Such a beautiful garden! Maybe one day I can attend one of your perfume courses. April 6, 2017 at 7:14am
Inma: Hello,
To wish you a beautiful workshop, I am sure you and the people who you are going to teach will enjoy as much as learn! April 6, 2017 at 9:14am
SilverMoon: I am sure the workshop will be great and I wish I could be there. What a beautiful garden and at this time of year it must be extra gorgeous. Diorissimo was one of my first perfume loves. I think it was the first perfume I bought for myself (back in the early 1980s). I also have Parfum de Therese, which is so lovely (and the story behind it so romantic). April 6, 2017 at 1:21pm
john: Wonderful to see. Eau Sauvage always reminds me how appealingly a composition can simultaneously be an admirable abstraction and also imply a procession of sensory cues seemingly culled directly from nature. I guess that’s a garden. April 6, 2017 at 4:31pm