THe absolute of Pays de Grasse
Grasse, capital of perfumes, located only from our lodges, has just obtained a Geographical Indication (GI) for its absolute production.
We are all happy with this GI (Geographic Indication), the tenth GI in France and the 1st which concerns the PAYS DE GRASSE.
In fact, L’ABSOLUE DE GRASSE is the only GI in Provence Alpes Cote d Azur.
Its registration was validated on November 6, 2020 after the know-how linked to the perfume of Pays de Grasse was recognized as intangible cultural heritage of humanity by UNESCO in 2018.
But first, what is the definition of an absolute?
It is a concentrate of perfume plants made from concrete (flower concentrate) or a distilled resinoid (plant concentrate). The alcohol evaporates and what remains is the absolute which is a clear and pure liquid: an olfactory concentrate.
Absolutes are the most powerful smell we find and that is why it will be used as a top note in perfumes.
If the absolute can be obtained industrially, it remains a natural product unlike synthetic molecules which now make up 50% of the composition of perfumes. The absolute, very fragrant and very expensive, marks the signature of a perfume.
Qu’est ce que l’absolue du Pays de Grasse?
It is a concentrate produced in Grasse from plants and flowers produced in the Alpes-Maritimes, the Var and the Alpes de Haute-Provence, all according to very precise specifications.
Note that this Geographical Indication is the first obtained in the South of France. The management of this Geographical Indication is entrusted to the association “Fleurs d’Exception du Pays de Grasse” and seven companies are concerned by this Geographical Indication. These are Firmenich, Jean Gazignaire, IFF-LMR, Mane, Payan-Bertrand, Robertet & Sotraflor. They alone represent 90% of the processing of plants in the area concerned. We can only rejoice at this new recognition of our know-how.
How is Pays de Grasse absolute produced?
There are two methods used to obtain the absolute:
A first method consists of extracting the absolute from the plant raw material by maceration. The plant is macerated in a volatile solvent. Once evaporated, the material is transformed into paste, which is called concrete. It is this substance which contains all the odorous and oily components of plant matter. Following this, the concrete is macerated in alcohol in order to solubilize it and extract all of the odorous molecules. It is only after filtration that the alcohol is evaporated to give the absolute.
The second method involves transferring the odors of the plant raw material into fat. This is then washed with alcohol to extract the odorous components. Following this, the alcohol obtained is evaporated to give the absolute.
These two methods are particularly time-consuming, which is why absolute is rare and expensive.
The perfume plant production sector in Pays de Grasse
This is the consecration of the work of an entire sector. Through this recognition, it is the work of perfume plant producers and the expertise of manufacturers from Grasse which is put in the spotlight.
For hundreds of years, the farmers of Grasse and surrounding towns have worked the land and cultivated perfume plants that will make it possible to produce perfumes and beauty products for the biggest luxury brands in the world.
These fragrances are intended for the luxury industry because synthetic perfumes, true copies of the original perfume of the plant, have exploded the market since the 70s. These synthetic perfumes provide excellent fragrances at low cost. Coming from petrochemicals, they are found in most of our scented objects and products: perfumes, detergents, softeners, deodorants, scented candles, etc.
If in recent years the production of perfume plants from the Grasse region has been put back in the spotlight after a large disaffection among farmers who could not make a decent living from their hard work, this may be due to several reasons.
First of all, mentalities have evolved. Now Natural and Organic is in vogue in our society.
So major cosmetics brands must offer their consumers what they demand: beautiful products that are good for their health and respectful of the environment.
So the latter are asking the manufacturers who are going to manufacture their fragrances to be certified and committed actors in this new conception of the sector.
And so manufacturers are looking for flower producers who follow an ecological approach to have a quality product.
This approval concerns the 7 largest processing companies in the Pays de Grasse which form 90% of the volume of industrial processors in the departments of Alpes-Maritimes, Var and Alpes de Haute Provence.
The reality of the Pays de Grasse is marked by very strong real estate pressure on the Côte d Azur. Therefore, there is less and less agricultural land nowadays and perfume flower farmers are only a few.
Public authorities, also keen to ensure the promotion of the brand image of the territories for which they are responsible, strive as much as possible to help the agriculture of perfume, aromatic and medicinal plants (PPAM) to maintain itself. .
Thus, a beautiful and new dynamic bringing hope is being reborn in Pays de Grasse.
