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Fragrance maker Giovanni Rance and the appeal of perfumery capital Grasse in France

SINGAPORE — When your ancestor has been personally involved in making fragrances for Napoleon Bonaparte, you know perfumery is a family trade you cannot stay away from. Giovanni Rance, who is the seventh generation heir to Francoise Rance’s storied legacy, left his previous careers in finance and academic research to take up the mantle of duty.

Giovanni Rance of Rance 1795 perfumes can't contain his excitements for the scents of each city.

Giovanni Rance of Rance 1795 perfumes can't contain his excitements for the scents of each city.

SINGAPORE — When your ancestor has been personally involved in making fragrances for Napoleon Bonaparte, you know perfumery is a family trade you cannot stay away from. Giovanni Rance, who is the seventh generation heir to Francoise Rance’s storied legacy, left his previous careers in finance and academic research to take up the mantle of duty.

“I realised my passion in discovering the balance between our family’s heritage and the contemporary world through perfumery. During the perfume creation process, I enjoy distilling creations that embody emotions too subtle to be described in words,” the Milan-based perfumer shared while in Singapore last week for a scent workshop at the escentials store.

Interestingly, Singapore ranks alongside London and San Francisco among his favourite places to visit for our “blend of colours, lights and scents”. “These three cities, each one with its peculiarities, are to me the portraits of the ‘soul’ of today’s world: contemporary, multicultural and with a fascinating, frantic soul,” he explained.

Q: Rance 1795’s history started in Grasse, France. Could you tell us why should travellers go there?

A: Grasse is a traditional village in the Provencal region. The whole region is fascinating and Grasse embodies the history of perfumery. Of course, if you love perfumes, visit the International Museum of Perfumery as it provides a wonderful overview of our fascinating world. Grasse also has a particularly evocative medieval feel you can lose yourself in. When in town, I love to stroll around the narrow cobbled streets, sometimes looking for hidden gardens or, just enjoying the wind from the sea. The town feels different during different months of the year. Like much of the rest of Cote d’Azur, it has a magical atmosphere in June when lavender flowers bloom. January and February are also good months to visit the town and the nearby villages as lots of activities are launched along the Route of Mimosa (a 130km route from Bormes-les-Mimosas to Grasse celebrating the blooming of bright yellow mimosas).

Q: If you could bottle up your favourite place in the world as a scent, what would it be and why?

A: One of my favourite places is the south-west coast of the island of Corsica, which is also the homeland of Napoleon. I would usually sail there in a boat. Depending on the season, the hours of the day, the direction and force of the wind, the distance from the coast or how deep you go in the inland, you can smell a variety of Mediterranean scents and different atmospheres. We’ve actually bottled some of these olfactory sketches into our Imperial Collection.

Q: Could you tell us about your best and worst trip abroad?

A: Sharing a trip with the persons I love, which includes my two children, makes any place a memorable experience. My worst travel ever was a summer mountain trek around Mont Blanc in the Alps where we endured cold weather and rain throughout the entire trip. Despite the bad weather, I enjoyed the teamwork and collaboration during the trek. And a stay in a mountain hut always makes for a great intimate experience. Serene Lim

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