2010, Fragonard celebrates the year of the Mimosa.
The Mimosa, wintry emblem of the French Riviera.

In French perfume making, and especially in Grasse, the Mimosa is nothing short of an institution. The plant belongs to the Acacia family, which boasts two shrubs whose gloriously scented flowers are often featured in fragrances. Acacia dealbata, known as the Mimosa, was introduced in eastern Provence at the end of the XIXth century. Acacia farnesiana, or the cassie, was planted by English vacationers wintering on the Riviera.

Basking under sunny skies since the XIXth century Mimosa has flourished in the valleys surrounding Grasse, Cannes and the foothills of the Esterel and Maures mountain ranges. It spread naturally, forming thickets that still fleck the landscape, and was cultivated for use in bouquets and perfume making.

FROM FEBRUARY TO DECEMBER, AT THE HISTORIC FACTORY AND THE FLOWER FACTORY IN GRASSE, THE FACTORY'S LABORATORY IN EZE, AND THE PERFUME MUSEUM ON RUE SCRIBE IN PARIS. VISITORS CAN:

• Learn about the perfume organ and spend some time in the artist's shoes. Discover the intensely floral notes with delicate honey and woody tones of the mimosa.
• Attend fragrance workshops :
  A fun and fascinating journey of the senses based on an eau de toilette composed mainly of mimosa. These workshops are held upon request and led by a professional perfumer.

FROM JANUARY TO MARCH

• Visit the mimosa greenhouse LA COLLINE DES MIMOSAS in Tanneron, where mimosas used for perfume making and for cut flowers are kept during the harvest.

FROM FEBRUARY TO DECEMBER:
In all Fragonard factories and shops

• Launch of Fragonard celebrates the Seasons with a line of room fragrances: Winter with mimosa, Spring with lily of the valley, Summer with jasmine, Autumn with orange blossom.
• Launch of the Mimosa Provençal gift basket
  It's a perfect souvenir - a wicker basket, woven in the signature colors of southern France, containing two mimosa soaps a mini-size eau de toilette and a towel decorated with blooming mimosas.

• Chinoiserie and bizarrerie in Provençal costumes.
  Clothes from Hélène Costa's magnificent collection that feature patterns known as "interwoven Chinese," "Chinese," "fans," and "bizarre" will be on display.
• Mimosas photographed by Anne-Françoise Pelissier.
  Anne-Françoise Pelissier has recreated the studio of Jean LUCE, a famous photographer who was dubbed the Cartier-Bresson of Grasse.