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Molinard, was founded in 1849 in Grasse in Provence in the south of France, the birthplace of the worldwide perfume industry; remaining an entirely family-run business (oldest in France) right through to the present day. Molinard originally manufactured Eaux de Fleurs (flower-scented waters) and Eau de Colognes that were then sold in its small store in the heart of town.

In 1860, two new Molinard perfumes were introduced into the French Market : "Jasmin" and " Rose ", later followed by "Mimosa" and "Violette", in sober, elegant crystal bottles by Baccarat. In 1891, The Queen Victoria, while staying in Grasse bought some Eaux de Cologne.

In 1900, Molinard expands itself in an old perfume factory, whose structure was designed by Gustave Eiffel -equally the designer of the Famous Paris Tower (even today, still the site of Maison Molinard). A typically "Provencal-style" showroom is created and receives the Maison's first customers: rich English and Russian visitors who come to admire a magnificent collection of 17th and 18th century furniture, and buy Molinard Eaux de Colognes as well as its floral perfumes.

1921 is a highly creative year: Molinard creates two products that are still popular even today: Habanita "the perfume for cigarettes" which in 1924 became "the world's most long lasting perfume". This was followed by "Concréta", the world's first compact perfume, in which "natural flower wax is used directly as a perfume". Encouraged by its success, Molinard engaged the services of the famous master glassmaker René Lalique, who created and signed for Molinard the stunningly beautiful bottles "Iles d'Or" in 1930, "Madrigal" in 1930 and "Le baiser du faune" in 1932.

In 1920 Viard, the famous bottles drawer, created some beautiful scent bottles for Molinard. In the thirties, the Baccarat crystal workshops created and produced for Molinard the perfume bottles for "7 diamonds in the Crown", "Christmas Bell", "Le Parfum des Parfums", etc.

1935-1945: Second World War, difficult times. Molinard invented "the Prisoner's parcel" to bring comfort to French prisoners.

1949: Molinard is 100 years old. A magnificent opuscule was edited and printed by Draeger containing photos of the most beautiful perfume bottles by Lalique, Baccarat and other famous master glassmakers of the period. Even today, this little book can still be found for sale at huge prices by antique booksellers...

1950 . . . 2008!!!
We've too much to tell you!!!
Come and visit us in Grasse, Nice or Lille, we can tell you more of Molinard's beautiful history then. After all, 155 years of history cannot be described in the space of two pages on the Web...

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