The Palace of Versailles created “Le Jardin du Parfumeur” – the Perfumer’s Garden – a fascinating new space in the heart of the Trianon Estate. The garden, which was opened to the public, was planted with hundreds of fragrant plants, recreating the spirit of the Trianon in the 17th century and enabling visitors to learn about the importance of fragrances at the royal court.
Flowers and fragrances were omnipresent at the court of Versailles, which could be considered the cradle of perfume-making. At that time, the Château preserved this tradition through three areas with distinctive identities. “The Garden of Curiosities” in front of the Orangerie gathered the majority of the floral species. Then “Under the Trees” was a walkway where Japanese cherry trees blossomed. Lastly, “The Secret Garden” proposed an intimate atmosphere.
The “Jardin du Parfumeur” was the fruit of exceptional collaboration between the Trianon gardeners and Maison Francis Kurkdjian. It brought together hundreds of fragrant plants, including traditional species such as roses and jasmine, as well as plants with surprising scents, ranging from chocolate to apple. Malodorous plants and “mute,” or silent flowers like hyacinth, peony, and violet, were also featured. These flowers were called “mute” because their scent had to be reproduced synthetically for use in fragrances.
This magnificent natural tableau provided a perfect way to discover Versailles from a novel perspective.
To book a visit to the Trianon Estate, visitors can go to the official website of the Château de Versailles: Château de Versailles website.