Korean ambassador Go Youn Jung recently journeyed to Grasse, visiting the fields of CHANEL to not just discover the region’s rich traditions and savoir-faire,but to also witness the bloom of the May Rose – the very heart of N°5 Extrait along with Grasse Jasmine.
THE CHANEL FIELDS
For over three centuries, the generous land of this region has provided an ideal setting for exceptional perfume flowers. Early on, the fragrances of the Grasse region became the benchmark for the greatest creators. It is here, in Grasse, that the story of N°5 was written in 1921, perfumer Ernest Beaux selected Grasse jasmine to compose this legendary fragrance. For decades, CHANEL has been committed to preserving this living heritage. Since 1987, the House has actively partnered with growers to sustain the cultivation of jasmine and rose. Today, five exceptional harvests — iris, geranium, tuberose, jasmine, and rose — are exclusively dedicated to CHANEL fragrances.
MAY ROSE
THE ICONIC FLOWER
Among the most precious flowers in perfumery, the centifolia rose — also known as the May rose — holds a singular place at the heart of the Grasse region. Cultivated on these exceptional lands since the 17th century, it is the flower of patience and perfume. Through its rarity, its beauty, and its inimitable fragrance, it remains forever the queen of spring, and the floral soul of the House.
Its bloom, both unique and fleeting, occurs only once a year, in May, when the softness of spring still meets the coolness of the night. At dawn, its generous corollas, edged with powdery hues, unfold to release a tender, sensual fragrance — at once honeyed, floral, and delicately spiced.
The centifolia rose fascinates as much for the abundance of its petals — around fifty for the variety cultivated today — as for the complexity of its scent. Born from subtle crossings between European and Middle Eastern roses, it has found in Grasse its land of choice, where each spring the Mul family perpetuates its cultivation for CHANEL, generation after generation.
This living connection to the region’s history and floral memory gives the May rose a unique aura: it embodies tradition, patience, and a savoir-faire passed down by hand.
The harvest, unchanged over time, begins at first light. With precise gestures, the pickers gather each flower by hand, preserving the integrity of this exceptional raw material. Immediately transported to the nearby factory, the petals are processed through a meticulous extraction method, ensuring the freshness and purity of their aromatic molecules. Nearly 400 kilograms of petals are required to obtain just 600 grams of absolute — a precious elixir at the heart of CHANEL’s great fragrances.
The May rose is not merely an ingredient; it is an emblem. Gabrielle Chanel demanded only the finest raw materials for her creations: the May rose naturally became part of the composition of N°5, and later N°19. Olivier Polge, CHANEL Perfumer Creator, describes its absolute as “round, rich, warm, and captivating”, highlighting the understated elegance of a flower capable of softening and harmonising even the most complex compositions.
Faced with contemporary challenges — ageing rose bushes, disease, and the scarcity of nurseries — CHANEL and the Mul family continue to innovate without ever betraying tradition. Rigorous plant selection, attentive care, and environmentally respectful agricultural methods are all implemented to ensure the longevity of the centifolia rose. In Pégomas, nearly 80,000 rose bushes now flourish, safeguarding the continuity of this living heritage. A flower of memory, muse to poets and artists, the May rose embodies the spirit of Grasse and CHANEL’s enduring pursuit of excellence. Through its rarity, its beauty, and its inimitable fragrance, it remains forever the queen of spring — and the floral soul of the House.
Discover more about CHANEL here.
CHANEL Go Youn Jung LES EXTRAITS DE CHANEL
