Updated on April 30, 2026
- A private Lancôme estate in Grasse, dedicated to fine perfumery
- An exceptional organic farm rich in 15 varieties of fragrance plants, including Centifolia roses, jasmine, and iris
- La Maison Rose and its educational distillery: an immersion in the art of perfumery, from flower to essence
- Free tours, by reservation, three weekends a year, timed to coincide with the blooming seasons
Just a few kilometers from Monaco and the French Riviera coastline, the Domaine de la Rose invites visitors to a rare immersion into the world of fine perfumery in Grasse. Owned by Lancôme, this intimate venue reveals the secrets of fragrance creation, from the soil to the bottle. An exclusive tour with Corinne Marie-Tosello, perfume expert and guide at the Domaine de la Rose.
An exceptional estate in the heart of Grasse, the world capital of perfume
It is a pink house, nestled on a hillside... All around, fields of flowers, olive trees, and cypresses, and in the distance, the lush peaks of the Pre-Alps offer a breathtaking panorama. “We’re at an altitude of 300 meters. Here, mountain air meets sea air. That’s what has made it possible to grow perfume plants in the Grasse region since the 17th century. So has the presence of numerous water sources,” explains Corinne Marie-Tosello. A terroir of excellence for this estate, acquired by Lancôme in 2020, which carries on the traditions of perfumery and serves as a testing ground.
"The ambition of this domain, unique and exceptional, is to transmit the three skills related to perfume: the cultivation of plants for perfume, the transformation of flowers and fragrant parts into essences, and the art of composing a perfume."
Corinne Marie-Tosello, perfume expert and guide at the Domaine de la Rose.
©Laziz Hamani / Lancôme - ©NeM Architectes
Grasse and the tradition of perfume
In the 16th century, tannery was the main activity of the city. Later, thanks to the distillation process and "under the Italian influence of Catherine de Medici," recalls Corinne Marie-Tosello, "it is a habit to perfume leather to cover the smell of tannins by using local essences such as myrtle and lentisk." she continues. Other varieties are then imported, rose, jasmine or orange tree, flourishing in this terroir and allowing the perfume industry to thrive.
Fields of aromatic plants grown organicall
Cultivated in organic farming for decades, the land in terraces, about 7 hectares, is pampered throughout the year by a team of five gardeners, led by Antoine Leclef, landscape engineer and crop manager. Labeled Ecocert, the estate favors practices that respect the soil: the pruning of olive trees is used for mulching around plants, retention basins welcome rainwater, weeding is done by hand, sheep graze in winter to maintain the grass...
A haven of biodiversity featuring 15 varieties of plants, including the Centifolia rose—the estate’s true emblem—as well as other botanical treasures such as:
- Iris pallida: growing beneath the olive trees, it blooms in April. “It’s called the Florentine iris, a magnificent sky blue,” explains Corinne Marie-Tosello. It is cultivated not for its flower but for its rhizome, which, when dried and ground into powder, possesses cosmetic properties.
- Large-flowered jasmine: its blooming period is one of the longest, from mid-July to late October. Harvesting its flowers, “with an exceptional fragrance, both fruity and floral,” is a delicate process: “In one kilo of fresh flowers, there are ten thousand blooms,” notes our guide.
- The bitter orange or bigarade tree: this iconic tree of the Mediterranean region blooms in April. “A precious tree for us,” comments Corinne Marie-Tosello, “its fruit yields bitter orange zest, its flowers provide neroli essential oil and orange blossom water, and its leaves yield petitgrain essential oil, used in cologne.”
©Laziz Hamani / Lancôme - ©NeM Architectes
Lemon verbena, helichrysum (or immortelle), olive trees, and rosemary also grow throughout the estate. Alongside them, the heritage rose garden features a dozen varieties, including the Lancôme rose, created in the 1970s by Delbard and used solely for ornamental purposes, and the perennial rose, recognizable by its white flowers. The latter is grown about a hundred kilometers away, on the Valensole plateau, and is used in Lancôme’s Absolue line of cosmetics.
The Distillation Process
Once picked, the flowers are immediately transported to the distillery sites to ensure that none of their fragrant molecules are lost. Some flowers and plants are then steam-distilled at 100°C to extract their essential oil. Others, such as the rose, reveal their fragrance only through solvent extraction at 40°C. “The lower the temperature, the better the aromatic molecules are preserved,” explains Corinne Marie-Tosello.
The Centifolia rose, the iconic flower of the Domaine de la Rose
Imported from Persia in the 17th century, the Centifolia rose is the emblematic flower of the Grasse region. The Domaine de la Rose contributes to its preservation through the 35,000 plants cultivated on its grounds. Prized for its floral and powerful fragrance, this rose—also known as the May rose, as it blooms during that month—is harvested exclusively by hand.
©Laziz Hamani / Lancôme - ©NeM Architectes
It takes a ton of flowers to produce one liter of absolute after processing. “On the estate, we don’t produce more than a few hundred kilograms, so that’s very little absolute.” A rare elixir that Lancôme reserves for limited editions such as the Absolue Les Parfums fine fragrance collection.
To discover other varieties of roses, visit the Princess Grace Rose Garden in Monaco.
La Maison Rose and its educational distillery
A true hallmark of the estate, La Maison Rose stands out as a unique architectural landmark in the heart of the Grasse hills. A modernist statement, this powder-pink monochromatic building—designed by architects Lucie Niney and Thibault Marca of the NeM firm—is also a model of eco-design. Its renovation prioritized local and recycled materials and artisanal craftsmanship.
High-quality design and construction work that has been rewarded: Lancôme has received the Gold Label for Mediterranean Sustainable Buildings.
Once through the entrance door, reminiscent of Lancôme’s “O,” a soft pink light bathes the space. Like living paintings, large picture windows delicately frame the landscape. Designed as a place of knowledge-sharing, the house houses the educational distillery on the lower level. There, visitors discover the intricacies of the extraction and processing methods for freshly harvested flowers. “For the same variety of roses, the fragrance molecules will develop differently depending on the terroir where they grew,” explains Corinne Marie-Tosello.
©Laziz Hamani / Lancôme - ©NeM Architectes
Innovation at the Heart of Domaine de la Rose
Exclusively available at the distillery, Osmobloom—developed by L’Oréal in partnership with Cosmo International Fragrances—reinvents the extraction of fragrance molecules. Its air-flow-based process yields extracts with exceptional olfactory fidelity, including for certain flowers that were previously impossible to extract naturally.
The Fragrance Organ: An Immersive Sensory Experience
The centerpiece of Maison Rose, the fragrance organ houses hundreds of carefully categorized essences, many of which are derived from plants grown on the estate. A creative space for master perfumers, it allows visitors to understand the olfactory art of perfume composition. Top, middle, and base notes—the accords unfold, revealing some of the secrets behind the creation of a fragrance.
©Laziz Hamani / Lancôme - ©NeM Architectes
Visit the Domaine de la Rose in Grass
Visiting Information and Reservation
Stroll through the rose gardens, breathe in the enchanting scent of jasmine, and admire the sleek lines of the Maison Rose... A visit to the Domaine de la Rose offers a unique and rare sensory experience. Three weekends a year—in April, May, and September—the estate is open to the public free of charge. These periods coincide with the blooming of iconic flowers, such as the iris, the Centifolia rose and the Jasmine. Reservations can be made online on the estate’s website one month before the open days.
©Laziz Hamani / Lancôme - ©NeM Architectes
How to get to the Domaine de la Rose from Monaco and the French Riviera
Located in the Alpes-Maritimes department, Grasse is about 60 kilometers from Monaco. It takes about 1.5 hours by car to reach the Domaine de la Rose from the Principality.
©Laziz Hamani / Lancôme - ©NeM Architectes
Set against the serene backdrop of the hills of Grasse, the Domaine de la Rose and its Maison Rose serve both as a place where the traditions of perfumery are passed down and as a laboratory for innovation. A fascinating showcase of French excellence and craftsmanship.
FAQ: Domaine de la Rose in Grasse
Does Lancôme own Domaine de la Rose?
Yes, Lancôme acquired Domaine de la Rose in 2020 to develop a site in Grasse that combines agriculture, heritage, and experimentation, all dedicated to perfumery.
What other perfume plants are grown on the estate, besides roses
In addition to the Centifolia rose, the estate’s emblem, Domaine de la Rose cultivates perfume plants typical of the Grasse region. Jasminum grandiflorum, tuberose, and Iris pallida grow alongside more aromatic species such as lavender and rose geranium.
Does the Domaine de la Rose organize special events outside of tours
Apart from the public and free visits organized three times a year, the domain remains voluntarily confidential. Place of life, inspiration and creation for their perfumers, it can however welcome groups of students in perfumery as part of their training.
After this detour to Grasse, other exceptional visits await you on the French Riviera: Villa La Vigie in Monaco, Cap Moderne in Roquebrune Cap-Martin, Villa Kerylos in Beaulieu-sur-Mer...
Discover a collection of remarkable places.
You might also like…
Monaco Sculptures: nearly 50 works in the gardens around the Casino de Monte-Carlo
Nearly 50 sculptures settle in Monaco, between gardens and emblematic places of the Resort. An open-air exhibition to discover until September.
Princess Grace Rose Garden in Monaco: The Art of High Botany
Discover the secrets of this exceptional garden and its 450 varieties of roses.
Hot tub, pool and terrace: summer fun in your Diamond Suite or Suite
Discover the suites with private terraces, pools and hot tubs you can enjoy on a relaxing getaway to one of Monaco’s ultimate luxury hotels.
