Discover the Grand Musée du Parfum, nestled in a private mansion in one of Paris' most exclusive neighbourhoods, the rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré. It pays homage to French parfumry, with a wonderful exhibition that is both instructive and playful. For example, you will be able to discover the first fragrances of Ancient Egypt, as well as unsuspected odours from the common rose.
When we visit this museum, it feels as if we were five years old again: we touch, we feel, and we have fun with objects. Visiting the museum is a wonderful experience for all lovers of perfume, but also a great occasion to share with family. Throughout the museum, you will be able to create your olfactory profile with the Smartguide by selecting your favourite fragrances!
| OPENING HOURS OF THE GRAND MUSÉE DU PARFUM | |
|---|---|
| TUESDAY TO SUNDAY | |
| FRIDAY EVENINGS |
Attention: Final entry is 1 hour before closing.
The museum is closed every Monday (except holidays and during school holidays in Zone C).
These rates are available at the museum box office upon presentation of proof of identity.
Before entering the museum, all visitors must undergo a security check. Once you have passed this check, choose the line reserved for the ticket holders and present your mobile ticket to commence your visit.
Discover your Ancestors!
With a prestigious setting just a stone's throw from the Champs-Elysées, this museum presents parfum in all of its aspects, covering the history of perfume, sensory aspects (odors and molecules) and professional techniques such as the parfumr's professional skills, better known as the "Nose").
Among other things, visitors will discover the Kyphi, the first known perfume, having been used in ancient Egypt. In 1500 BC, the parfum was used to communicate with the gods by means of fumigation, something which is recalled by the etymology of the word 'perfume' (in Latin per fumare). The composition of Kyphi was found on Egyptian bas-reliefs in hieroglyphics, allowing us to connect with our ancestors from 3500 years ago!
If Egypt is the cradle of ancient parfumry, France is obviously also in the spotlight as a precursor of modern parfumry. In the 19th century, Paris became a symbol of the art of living and sophistication, and holds a very special place in the history of perfume. Most notably, the city hosted the Universal Exhibition of 1900 where Parisian perfume makers showed off their creative audacity and innovative industrial techniques like synthetic chemistry.
Test Your Sense of Smell
The history of parfum is exciting, but the Grand Musée du Parfum also features more playful areas. You can walk through the garden of scents and try to discover the parfum emanating from the large white flowers - an experience that is ideal for children.
Discover all of the subtleties of the rose, including the 400 molecules derived from it, some of which seem not to be connected to the rose at all. Experience them one by one and confront their odours, sometimes pleasant and sometimes much less so.
Did you know that not everyone smells in the same way, and some smells are imperceptible to us while others smell intense? At the Grand Musée du Parfum, you can test this strange phenomenon and discover its name: human beings are "anosmic" to certain odours.
Discover the Profession of the Perfumer
The abiity to be a nose is not given to everybody: you have to know how to recompose nature in your mind, creating a unique sensory experience. The space at the museum dedicated to parfumry allows you to discover this complex profession. Great parfumrs will also answer the questions that everyone asks: are there parfums for men and women? Does perfume change when it touches the skin? You will find that their answers are often more complex than you may think from reading fashion magazines!
