The Story of Perfume: A Journey Through France's Luxurious Past
Join Us in France Travel Podcast
Annie Sargent
4.6 • 1K Ratings
🗓️ 29 June 2025
⏱️ 59 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Have you ever wondered how France became the world’s perfume capital?
In “The Story of Perfume: A Journey Through France's Luxurious Past,” host Annie Sargent and guest Elyse Rivin from Toulouse Guided Walks take you on a fragrant journey through French history. They explore how perfume evolved from smoky rituals and religious ceremonies to the luxury bottles we see today. You will learn how Grasse became the heart of perfume making and why Chanel No. 5, Shalimar, and Poison became iconic scents tied to France.
Listen to the episode ad-free to travel back in time through the scents of France!
Annie and Elyse share stories about Catherine de’ Medici bringing her personal perfumer to France, the smelly days at Versailles when perfume was used to cover the lack of bathing, and how Napoleon loved Eau de Cologne so much he used it daily. Discover how the French revolution impacted perfume makers, how the Guerlain family shaped perfume history, and how synthetic fragrances changed the industry.
If you are planning a trip to France, Annie and Elyse suggest several places you can visit to enjoy this history in real life.
This episode is perfect for travelers interested in French culture, perfume lovers, and anyone curious about the unique stories that shaped France. Subscribe to the Join Us in France Travel Podcast to get weekly episodes that bring France to life with history, culture, and practical travel tips for your next adventure.
Listen to this episode to add a touch of scent and story to your France travel plans and discover why perfume remains one of the country’s most luxurious traditions.
Table of Contents for this Episode
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | This is Join us in France episode 552. |
| 0:20.4 | 5502. |
| 0:22.5 | Bonjour, I'm Annie Sargent, and join us in France is the podcast where we take a conversational |
| 0:27.9 | journey through the beauty, culture, and flavors of France. |
| 0:31.9 | Today, I bring you a great conversation with Elise Riven of Toulouse Guided Walks about |
| 0:37.0 | the rich history of perfume in France. |
| 0:40.3 | Discover how fragrances evolved from ancient rituals to modern luxury and why perfume remains an iconic |
| 0:47.7 | part of French culture. You'll learn about the surprising origins of perfume in France, |
| 0:53.8 | influential figures, |
| 0:55.6 | and the timeless allure of French perfumes, |
| 0:58.3 | and how also you can enjoy all of that on your next trip to France. |
| 1:03.5 | This podcast runs on Chocolatine, caffeine, |
| 1:06.6 | and the support of lovely humans like you. |
| 1:09.1 | You book itinerary consults, take my voice map tours, |
| 1:13.5 | ride shotgun in my electric car, |
| 1:16.1 | come to the boot camp, |
| 1:17.2 | or slip me a few euros on Patreon, and I love you for it. |
| 1:21.4 | Once you keep me going and skip the ads, |
| 1:23.9 | there's a link for that in the show notes. |
| 1:26.2 | And for all of my services, |
| 1:28.5 | head to join us in France.com for a slash boutique and merci. |
| 1:33.9 | Want all the links and the full episode transcript? |
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