As I’ve mentioned time and time again; perfumes have increasingly become a passion for me. For the better part of the last two years, I’ve daydreamed of spending a sabbatical of sorts tucked away in the flower fields of Grasse learning how to craft a fragrance. I’ve repeatedly researched perfumery courses near and far, contemplating when the right time would come so I could pause everything and learn about the art of perfume-making. Then, a few months ago, I got a call that proved to me once again that the damn Secret is so freaking true. Chanel had invited me on a global press trip to Grasse (!!!). The occasion? To celebrate the harvest of the Tuberose flower, and consequently, the first fragrance the maison has ever made with its essence—Gabrielle. Not only that, but they also gave me the opportunity to interview its creator; famed perfumer, and basically the prince of Grasse, Olivier Polge (his father, Jacques, was Chanel’s perfumer from 1978-2014). What a delightful 3 days we spent in the region. From the hotel, Le Mas de Pierre, to the dinners we had and the sights we saw (more on that later). And of course, getting to meet Mr. Polge and Mr. Joseph Mul, who owns the fields where Chanel grows its flowers. I hope the below visual story will make you feel like you were there with me. It was truly such a unique experience, I’ve tried my best to make this post as unique as well. Merci, Chanel, for this unforgettable adventure!
Tuberose Harvest in Grasse with Chanel
December 1, 2017
![Chanel's Tuberose flowers ready to go through the extraction process in Grasse, France](https://aconstellationjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/aconstellation-grasse-chanel-37.jpg)
![Blog photo collage with airplane glass photo, book page and the Mediterranean ocean](https://aconstellationjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/aconstellation-grasse-chanel-24-1.jpg)
![Aerial view from the plane of Nice in the Côte d'Azur, France](https://aconstellationjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/aconstellation-grasse-chanel-6-1.jpg)
![View from my airplane window arriving at Nice, France](https://aconstellationjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/aconstellation-grasse-chanel-9.jpg)
![View of Nice in the foreground and Grasse in the background from my airplane window](https://aconstellationjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/aconstellation-grasse-chanel-8.jpg)
![Aerial view of the Mediterranean ocean](https://aconstellationjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/aconstellation-grasse-chanel-4.jpg)
![Hotel Le Mas de Pierre in Saint-Paul-de-Vence, France](https://aconstellationjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/aconstellation-grasse-chanel-52.jpg)
![Walkway to my room in Le Mas de Pierre hotel in Saint-Paul-de-Vence, France](https://aconstellationjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/aconstellation-grasse-chanel-68.jpg)
![Blog photo collage with a note from Olivier Polge and a gift from Chanel](https://aconstellationjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/aconstellation-grasse-chanel-25-1.jpg)
![La Bastide in Les Champs de Chanel, Grasse](https://aconstellationjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/aconstellation_chanel_grasse_tk_3.jpg)
![Chanel press kit and notebook](https://aconstellationjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/aconstellation-grasse-chanel-22.jpg)
![The Chanel flower fields in Grasse, France](https://aconstellationjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/aconstellation_chanel_grasse_10.gif)
![Blankets for a chilly Fall day in Grasse, France](https://aconstellationjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/aconstellation_chanel_grasse_tk_9.jpg)
![Olivier Polge telling us about his latest perfume for Chanel, Gabrielle](https://aconstellationjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/aconstellation-grasse-chanel-23.jpg)
![The Gabrielle Chanel Fragrance](https://aconstellationjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/aconstellation-grasse-chanel-25.jpg)
![Blog photo collage with bicycles in the Chanel fields of Grasse, France](https://aconstellationjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/aconstellation_chanel_grasse_11.gif)
![Maristella putting on rubber Chanel boots to walk through the flower fields of Grasse](https://aconstellationjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/aconstellation-grasse-chanel-21-2.jpg)
![Tuberose flower in the Chanel fields of Grasse in France](https://aconstellationjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/aconstellation-grasse-chanel-41.jpg)
![Maristella in the Tuberose flower fields of Grasse. Photo by Thomas Kelly](https://aconstellationjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/aconstellation_chanel_grasse_tk_6.jpg)
![Maristella entering the Tuberose crops of Chanel in Grasse](https://aconstellationjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/aconstellation-grasse-chanel-31.jpg)
![Maristella in the Chanel Tuberose fields of Grasse, France](https://aconstellationjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/aconstellation-grasse-chanel-36-1.jpg)
![Blog photo collage featuring Joseph Mul and Olivier Polge](https://aconstellationjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/aconstellation-grasse-chanel-42.jpg)
![Bag of recently harvested Tuberose flowers in Grasse, France](https://aconstellationjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/aconstellation_chanel_grasse_tk_2.jpg)
![How the Tuberose flower gets plucked and harvested from its stem. Grasse, France.](https://aconstellationjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/aconstellation-grasse-chanel-26.gif)
![Maristella dans les champs de Chanel](https://aconstellationjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/aconstellation_chanel_grasse_tk_7.jpg)
![Blog photo collage with Fuji Instax polaroid photos of Maristella making flower crowns with Chanel in Grasse, France](https://aconstellationjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/aconstellation_chanel_grasse_15.gif)
“Even though we live in a world where everything interacts, there is still a knowhow in Grasse that you cannot get anywhere else.”
–Olivier Polge
![Joseph Mul and Olivier Polge in the Tuberose fields of Chanel, Grasse, France.](https://aconstellationjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/aconstellation_chanel_grasse_tk_8.jpg)