IN THE BEGINNING – PERFUMED GLOVEMAKERS AND APOTHECARIES

In the 17th and 18th centuries, the line between medicine and cosmetics was blurred.

Two distinct trades approached the creation of scented products and remedies in different ways: apothecaries and glove-makers-perfumers.

Apothecaries used their botanical knowledge to formulate remedies and essences for therapeutic purposes: one had to protect oneself from “miasmas”! These “miasmas” were suspicious odors then believed to cause disease.
It was in the city of Montpellier, in the Midi region, at the renowned School of Medicine, that the apothecary’s trade flourished, thanks in particular to easy access to the plants and herbs needed for pharmaceutical preparations.
Entire dynasties of apothecaries and perfumers emerged and flourished there, such as the Fargeon family, who created fragrances notably for Mademoiselle d’Orléans, a cousin of Louis XIV, and later for Queen Marie-Antoinette…
The box displayed in showcase No. 2 is a prime example of this.
It is a wooden apothecary’s box filled with numerous vials, jars, and boxes that still bear their handwritten labels. The set contains various remedies and substances in use during the 19th century. Each vial has its own specific place within the box, reflecting both meticulous organization and the diversity of the preparations.

Tanners have been working with hides in Grasse since the Middle Ages, primarily to create leather gloves.
Given this success, in the 17th century, manufacturers in Grasse began developing essences designed to scent luxury leather, making this new craft their specialty.
To mask the smell of leather, they used fragrant plants from the region such as lavender, orange blossom, and mimosa.
It was in this context that the Guild of Glove Makers and Perfumers was established, officially recognized in 1656 by Louis XIV. A symbol of refinement and an essential accessory at court, perfumed gloves were popularized by Catherine de’ Medici, Queen of France and wife of Henry II.
Thanks to the expertise of its glove makers, the small town of Grasse quickly gained a worldwide reputation in the glove-making and perfumery industries, supplanting the apothecaries and perfumers of Montpellier.

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