Founded in 1850 in Grasse and still led by the Maubert family, Robertet Group is the global leader in natural raw materials. Operating in over 50 countries, with 17 creation centers and more than 2,500 employees, the group embodies excellence, independence, and sustainable innovation. As a major partner of this first edition of Grasse Perfume Week, Robertet is playing a key role in the event. We sat down with Jérôme Bruhat, CEO of Robertet since 2022.
Why did you choose to get involved in this partnership?
Grasse Perfume Week is much more than just an event — it’s a celebration of excellence and olfactory heritage in the world’s perfume capital. For Robertet, a house founded in Grasse in 1850, it is both natural and essential to support an initiative that highlights olfactory culture, raw materials, and innovation in our historic birthplace. This partnership reflects our deep connection to this region, its unique craftsmanship, and its forward-looking momentum.
Why does this collaboration carry special meaning this year?
This collaboration carries special meaning this year because it marks the very first edition of the Grasse Perfume Week — a pivotal moment that brings together the past, present, and future of perfumery. It’s a unique opportunity to shine a spotlight on Grasse’s exceptional heritage while embracing the innovations shaping tomorrow’s fragrance industry. For Robertet, it’s also a moment to reaffirm our commitment to Grasse and to the values of excellence, creativity, and sustainability that define both our identity and this initiative.
What will visitors discover at Villa Fragonard during Grasse Perfume Week?
We have designed an immersive experience called “Seed to Scent,” inviting the public to explore Robertet’s sensory universe through three main stages: raw materials, perfumery, and then emotion and creation. This journey pays tribute to Grasse’s iconic flowers, traditional extraction methods such as enfleurage — an ancient technique that captures the scent of flowers using fatty substances — as well as modern technologies like supercritical CO₂ extraction, which preserves the olfactory richness of plants in a pure and sustainable way.
Visitors will also have the opportunity to meet the perfumers behind Robertet’s creations — women and men who share their favorite raw materials, sources of inspiration, and creative approach.
The “Seed to Feel” experience offers a unique approach to the connection between fragrance and emotion, inviting everyone to explore olfactory sensations and their personal resonances.
Villa Fragonard thus becomes a meeting place between tradition and innovation, where enthusiasts, professionals, and amateurs come together to celebrate the richness of Grasse’s expertise through unique sensory experiences.
You will also take part in the Smell Talks, which you are sponsoring. What topics will you be addressing there?”
The Smell Talks are a valuable opportunity to take a broader perspective on our profession and open up new outlooks for the future of perfumery. My presentation will focus on “Grasse, the birthplace of perfumery,” a topic that is particularly close to my heart. Speaking about Grasse means talking about our roots, our expertise, but also our responsibility to preserve a unique ecosystem that is cultural, agricultural, and human. It is also a chance to share how a local company, deeply rooted in its territory, has managed to shine internationally while remaining true to its values.
During these three days of Smell Talks, other members of our team will address topics that extend this vision: naturalness as a driving force for creation, sustainable innovations serving raw materials, and the importance of human collaborations in an industry undergoing profound transformation. Through these exchanges, we aim to share a conviction: it is by combining our heritage with our ability to innovate together that we will advance perfumery with purpose and high standards.
All Smell Talks are open to visitors with a Grasse Perfume Week ticket.
- Here is the schedule of the Smell Talks conferences
- Click here to access the ticketing
- Click here to visit Robertet Website
Photo : Robertet
