Before becoming the renowned perfume capital, the city of Grasse specialized in leather tanning, a flourishing trade in the 16th century. However, the unpleasant odors emanating from the hides spread widely, prompting Jean de Galimard, Lord of Séranon and a member of the Guild of Glove-Makers and Perfumers, to create scented leather gloves. He presented them to Catherine de' Medici, who was immediately captivated by this creation.
This new fashion subsequently spread through the Royal Court and then into high society, gradually making perfume production the city's specialty. This earned Grasse the title of the world's perfume capital by the 17th century and led to the transformation of tanners into glove-makers and perfumers.