Heritage
A house, in its own words
Place des Lices emerged from Grasse, a city whose name is synonymous with perfume craftsmanship. While the exact founding year remains unclear, the brand began releasing its first fragrances in 1999, a year that saw the debut of Matin d’Ete, Fiordilatte and Twentie’s. Those early scents combined citrus top notes with soft florals, a formula that quickly identified the house’s aesthetic. In 2011 the line expanded with Pepper and Ambre, introducing spicier accords that reflected the market’s growing appetite for bold, yet refined, compositions. The 2017 releases Vanille Crème and Pêche Sucré marked a shift toward gourmand textures, using natural vanilla beans and ripe peach extracts sourced from southern France. A discovery set of six artisan perfumes appeared on social platforms in 2022, offering newcomers a curated sampling of the brand’s range. The following year, Place des Lices introduced Passion Figuier, a fig‑centric fragrance that celebrated the fruit’s Mediterranean heritage, and Seychelles, a marine‑inspired scent that captured the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean. Throughout its evolution, the house has remained anchored in Grasse’s traditional methods while embracing contemporary trends, allowing it to sustain a steady output of new releases without diluting its core identity. The brand’s name references the historic Place des Lices square in Cannes, a venue known for its summer markets and cultural gatherings, reinforcing the connection between the perfume house and the broader Provençal lifestyle. Place des Lices treats perfume as a portable landscape. The creators believe that scent can translate the atmosphere of a sunlit promenade, a lavender field at dusk or a bustling market stall into a personal experience. Their creative process starts with a specific location or seasonal moment, then translates that impression into a palette of raw materials. The brand values authenticity, opting for ingredients that can be traced to their geographic origin, whether that is Provençal rosemary, Sicilian citrus or Madagascan vanilla. Transparency guides their sourcing decisions; they prefer suppliers who practice sustainable harvesting and who can provide documentation of the material’s provenance. Rather than chasing fleeting trends, Place des Lices aims to build a small, timeless library of scents that each tells a story rooted in the French Riviera’s cultural heritage. The house also encourages mindful consumption, offering a discovery set that lets customers explore several fragrances before committing to a full bottle, a practice that aligns with their respect for both the art and the environment.