Fragrance Notes Issue 1, 2019 | Page 42

MEMBER NEWS The Art Of Perfumery in Grasse, France, Earns UNESCO World Heritage Status From a press release issued by Firmenich, Inc.— “The art of perfumery and its birthplace Grasse, France, have been officially awarded ‘World Heritage Status,’ joining UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list, aiming to preserve the world’s most precious traditions. Recognized by UNESCO’s special- ized committee, Grasse’s unique perfumery ‘savoir-faire’ includes the cultivation of per- fume plants, the knowledge and processing of natural raw materials, and the art of perfume composition. ‘Since the 16th century, Grasse has been the cradle of perfumery and the global guard- ian of its unique heritage. With Firmenich’s Naturals Center of Excellence in Grasse, we are proud to be part of this exceptional tradi- tion,’ said Armand de Villoutreys, President Perfumery & Ingredients, Firmenich. ‘UNES- CO’s world heritage status guarantees that we can safeguard Grasse’s collective savoir-faire and natural ingredients for generations to come.’ 42 | FRAGRANCENOTES.ORG | Issue 1, 2019 Grasse and its surrounding area offer a unique environment, from soil quality and sun- light to temperature, ideally suited to nurture exceptional flowers at the heart of perfumery creation. The area is particularly world-re- nowned for its fragrant ‘Rose de Mai’ (May rose) and jasmine, sustainably cultivated for Firmenich, as well as for many French luxury houses. ‘Having grown up in Grasse, the heart of perfumery, I carry with me a deep respect and understanding of flowers and nature, and the beauty they bring to fragrance,’ said Fabrice Pellegrin, Perfumer, Firmenich. ‘I love to spend time in flower fields to feed my inspira- tion, while sharing the essence of Grasse with the next generation of perfumers to keep the magic of Grasse alive.’ This celebration confirms the importance of Firmenich’s Naturals Center of Excellence in Grasse, at the heart of the Group’s world-class creativity and exceptional palette of ingredi- ents, cutting across naturals, synthetic, and biotechnology. Utilizing state-of-the-art tech- nologies such as CO2 extraction and mastering traditional processes, the Naturals Center leverages Firmenich’s leadership in research and development, innovation, and sustainable sourcing. Each year in Grasse, the Group processes around 500 tons of raw materials, sourced from all over the world, including rose, jasmine, mimosa, lavenderm and violet leaves from the Grasse area. In [Firmenich’s] Naturals Together video (firmenich.com), you can hear from Firmen- ich Perfumer, Fabrice Pellegrin about how the Group harvests the ‘Rose de Mai’ with its local partners in Grasse. Today, Firmenich sources over 170 Naturals worldwide in a sustainable and ethical way from a network of Joint Ventures at source and strategic partner- ships with 17 Naturals Together producers, as well as proprietary production sites. Deeply anchored in the region, Firmenich is also a co-founder of GRASSE EXPER- TISE™, a hallmark of excellence to preserve the unique expertise of the Grasse region at every stage of perfumery production and cre- ation, from flower cultivation and ingredient extraction, to scientific research and supply.” FN