Founded in 1849 in Grasse (the birthplace of the global perfume industry) in the southern French region of Provence, Maison MOLINARD has remained a fully family-owned business to this day. Molinard originally produced Eaux de Fleurs (floral scented water) and Eau de Colognes which were then sold in his small shop in the heart of the city of Grasse.
In 1860, two new Molinard perfumes are launched on the French market: "Jasmin" and "Rose", later followed by "Mimosa" and "Violette", in sober, elegant crystal bottles from Baccarat.
The Maison expanded in 1900. A factory, whose structure was designed by Gustave Eiffel, the designer of the famous Parisian Tower, is being built on the outskirts of the city (still today the site of Maison Molinard). A typical "Provencal" showroom is being created to welcome the Maison's first customers: wealthy English and Russian visitors who come to admire a beautiful collection of 17th and 18th century furniture and buy Molinard Eaux de Colognes and its floral perfumes.
1921 is a very creative year: Molinard creates two products that are still popular today: Habanita "the perfume for cigarettes" which in 1924 became "the most sustainable perfume in the world". This is followed by "Concréta", the world's first compact perfume, in which "natural flower wax is used directly as a perfume".
Encouraged by its success, the Maison enlists the services of the famous master glassblower René Lalique, who created the stunningly beautiful bottles of "Iles d'Or" in 1930, "Madrigal" in 1930 and "Le baiser du faune" in 1932 for Molinard. creates and signals.
In the 1930s, the Baccarat crystal workshops created and produced for Molinard the perfume bottles for "7 Diamonds in the Crown", "Christmas Bell", "Habanita", "Le Parfum des Parfums", etc.
1935-1945: World War II - Troubled Times. Molinard invents "the prisoner's package" to provide comfort to the French prisoners of war.
1949: Molinard is 100 years old. A beautiful opuscule is edited and printed by Draeger with photos of the most beautiful perfume bottles from Lalique, Baccarat and other famous master glass makers of the period. This booklet is still available today from antique dealers at tremendous prices ...