The Perfumer’s Garden at the Palace of Versailles was made possible thanks to the patronage of Maison Francis Kurkdjian. Located in the Châteauneuf Orangerie in the heart of the Trianon estate, this new garden will cultivate awareness of the history of fragrance at the court of Versailles, which became the cradle of perfume-making craft and artistry in the 17th century.
The extraordinary synergy between the Trianon’s gardeners and Maison Francis Kurkdjian culminated in the Perfumer’s Garden, home to more than three hundred plants used in perfume-making. Together with his team, Alain Baraton, head gardener of the Trianon estate, spent more than two years bringing the garden to life. The garden features traditional botanicals; essences that exude unexpected aromas; and “mute” or silent flowers, such as hyacinth, peony and violet. In keeping with the spirit of the 17th-century Trianon gardens, this “Jardin du Parfumeur” is composed of three distinct areas: “The Garden of Curiosities” in front of the Orangerie, where most of the floral essences can be found, “Under the Trees” with its blossomed walkway of Japanese cherry trees, and “The Secret Garden” with its more intimate atmosphere.
Accessible via guided tour, the Perfumer’s Garden will offer workshops throughout the summer and will be incorporated into a number of tours designed for families, students and associations. The “Perfumer’s workshop” tour in particular will introduce visitors to this new space and the species that grow there, inviting them to discover and gain a deeper understanding of the olfactory expertise involved in the art of perfume-making. Ever since 2003, when he first met MFK co-founder and CEO Marc Chaya, Maison Francis Kurkdjian has envisioned bringing back the whimsy of the Sun King’s lavish parties in Versailles, for which the gardens’ pools and fountains were scented. A few years later, the pair joined forces to create several olfactory installations in the Versailles gardens: “Chutt…d’Eau” in 2007, “PréamBulle” in 2007 and 2008 and “Le Roi Danse” in 2008. With the Perfumer’s Garden, Maison Francis Kurkdjian is sustainably reinforcing its ties with the Palace of Versailles.
Images courtesy of Maison Francis Kurkdjian
