The quest for exclusive ingredients and unique facets is driving major fragrance houses to invest in beyond extraction technologies by focusing on botanical diversity itself.
Following the end-of-May inauguration by LMR Naturals, the natural ingredients division of IFF (International Flavors & Fragrances), of an experimental field in Grasse, the southern French city known as the world’s capital of perfumery, Mane has announced the launch of its own agronomic innovation project.
The group has teamed up with Sébastien Rodriguez, a farmer from the Grasse region, son of a centifolia rose grower and founding member of the association Les Fleurs d’Exception du Pays de Grasse (namely Exceptional Flowers of the Grasse Region), to create an experimental garden dedicated to advancing research, fostering knowledge exchange, and driving innovation in fragrance and aromatic plants.
Botanical explorations
According to Mane, this partnership reflects a commitment to preserving the agricultural heritage of the Grasse region while exploring new pathways for the future of natural raw materials. The garden has been designed as both a place for transmitting the region’s emblematic floral and plant heritage, and as a hub for research and experimentation on new hybrids, innovative extraction techniques, and improved agricultural practices.
The site will host a wide range of plants and varieties emblematic of the Grasse region (rose, jasmine, tuberose, etc.), while also opening the way to new botanical explorations. Several hybrids developed in collaboration with leading scientific institutes will be cultivated and evaluated for their olfactory properties.
“This scientific approach will deepen our understanding of how natural fragrances are formed and evolve, while also supporting the selection of varieties that are especially rich in aromatic compounds. The garden will serve as a true space for exploration, where botany, scientific culture, agronomy, chemistry, and olfactory creation come together to shape the perfumes of tomorrow,” explains Mane in a press release.
In this open-air laboratory, Mane’s agronomic teams will observe growth cycles, analyse the composition of aromatic molecules, and assess the influence of soil, climate, and cultivation practices on the olfactory expression of botanical species.
The group also plans to explore regenerative agriculture practices aimed at restoring soil fertility, enhancing biodiversity, and improving crop resilience to climate change.
The site will likewise serve as a testing ground for various raw material extraction techniques, including Mane’s redesigned enfleurage system, E-Pure Jungle Essence. Thanks to the installation of a mobile laboratory directly in the fields, it will be possible to perform extractions from freshly picked plants, thus preserving all the richness and subtlety of their olfactory profiles.
