Nestled in the hills of southern France, Grasse is famous as the world’s “perfume capital.” But did you know this charming town once smelled terrible? In the 16th century, Grasse was known for its leather industry, not its sweet scents. The air was filled with the smell of animal hides and chemicals used in tanneries. To make their gloves more pleasant, local craftsmen began soaking them in flower-scented oils. This clever idea not only improved the smell but also started Grasse’s journey into the world of perfume.
The real change came when a Grasse glove-maker presented a pair of scented gloves to Catherine de Medici, the queen of France. She loved them, and perfumed gloves soon became a fashion trend among European royalty. As high taxes made leather less profitable, skilled workers switched from making gloves to creating fragrances. By the 17th century, Grasse had become a center of Europe’s perfume trade.
Grasse’s success is also due to its natural environment. The mild Mediterranean climate, fertile soil and abundant rainfall create ideal conditions for growing flowers like roses, jasmine, and lavender, which are key ingredients in perfume. Even today, fields of colorful blooms surround the town, and farmers continue to harvest flowers for their precious oils.
Photo: Freepik / 照片：Freepik
Visiting Grasse is like stepping into a fragrant dream. You can tour historic perfume factories where guides explain how flowers are turned into luxurious scents. The International Perfume Museum tells the history of perfume through antique bottles and interactive exhibits. For a hands-on experience, visitors can join DIY perfume workshops and create their own unique scents under expert guidance.
Grasse’s influence extends far beyond France. Many famous perfumes were born here, and its perfumers remain highly respected today. It’s a place where history, nature, and creativity come together, and where every scent tells a story.
坐落在法國南部丘陵之中，格拉斯以世界香水之都聞名。但你知道這座迷人的小鎮曾經臭氣沖天嗎？在西元 16 世紀，格拉斯以皮革產業聞名，而不是甜美的香氣。空氣中充滿了動物皮革的氣味，以及製革廠使用的化學品味道。為了讓手套氣味更宜人，當地工匠開始把手套浸泡在帶有花香的油中。這個巧妙的點子不僅改善了氣味，也開啟了格拉斯進入香水世界的旅程。
真正的轉變發生在一位格拉斯的手套製造商向法國王后凱薩琳．德．麥地奇獻上一雙香氛手套。她非常喜歡，於是香氛手套很快在歐洲王室之間成為時尚潮流。隨著高額稅金使皮革產業獲利降低，技術熟練的工匠便從製作手套轉而調製香氛。到了西元 17 世紀，格拉斯已成為歐洲香水貿易的中心。
格拉斯的成功也歸功於其自然環境。溫和的地中海氣候、肥沃的土壤，以及充足的降雨，造就了種植玫瑰、茉莉與薰衣草等花卉的理想條件，而這些花卉正是香水的重要原料。即使在今日，色彩繽紛的花田仍環繞著小鎮，農民也持續採收花朵以萃取珍貴的花油。
造訪格拉斯就像走進一場芬芳的夢。你可以參觀歷史悠久的香水工廠，由導覽員解說花朵如何被製成奢華的香氣。國際香水博物館則透過古董香水瓶與互動式展品講述香水的歷史。若想親身體驗，遊客也能參加 DIY 香水工作坊，在專家指導下調配出屬於自己的獨特香味。
格拉斯的影響力遠超法國境內。許多知名香水都在此誕生，而這裡的調香師至今仍備受尊敬。這是一個歷史、自然與創意交會的地方，每一種香味都在講述一段故事。
KEY VOCABULARY
1. perfume n.
香水；香味 vt. 使香氣瀰漫
perfumed adj.
香味的 ；香氣瀰漫的
perfumer n.
調香師；香水製造商
Shane carefully chose a subtle perfume that wouldn’t be too strong for the office environment.
夏恩仔細挑選了一款淡雅的香水，不會在辦公室環境中顯得太濃烈。
2. soak v. 浸濕；浸泡
Please soak the dirty clothes in warm water before washing them.
請先把髒衣服浸泡在溫水中再清洗。
3. mild adj. 溫和的
This winter has been unusually mild compared with last year’s freezing weather.
與去年寒冷的天氣相比，今年冬天異常溫和。
4. fertile adj. 肥沃的；能生育的
The Nile River valley has fertile soil that has supported agriculture for thousands of years.
尼羅河谷擁有肥沃的土壤，數千年來一直支持著農業發展。
5. rainfall n. 下雨；降雨（量）
Heavy rainfall caused flooding in several small towns.
大量降雨導致幾個小鎮淹水。
6. ingredient n. 材料；成分
Fresh garlic is an important ingredient in many traditional dishes.
新鮮大蒜是許多傳統料理的重要食材。
7. luxurious adj. 奢侈的；豪華的
Soft carpets and golden lights created a luxurious atmosphere.
柔軟地毯與金色燈光營造出豪華氛圍。
8. antique adj. 古董的
Many visitors admired the antique jewelry displayed in the museum.
許多訪客欣賞博物館展示的古董珠寶。
9. exhibit n. 展品
Each exhibit includes clear descriptions to help visitors understand the history.
每件展品都有清楚說明幫助訪客了解歷史。
MORE INFORMATION
nestle v.（使）坐落於
craftsman n. 工匠
royalty n. 王室成員
Mediterranean adj. 地中海的
fragrant adj. 芳香的
hide n. 獸皮
tannery n. 製革廠
hands-on adj. 親自動手的；實作的
A: Two major international sports events are going to take place in Hualien County next month. B: The 58th International Children’s Games, or ICG, will run from Aug. 1 to 6. What’s the other event? A: The other is the 15th International Dragon Boat Federation Club Crew World Championships, from Aug. 29 to Sept. 6. B: Over 2,000 teenagers aged 12 to 15 from around the world are taking part in this year’s ICG, which tries to foster camaraderie and understanding among youth. A: And competitions include track and field, swimming, soccer, tennis, taekwondo, archery, basketball and table
Recently, travelers in Australia were left disappointed after trying to visit hot springs that didn’t actually exist. An AI-generated post on the Tasmania Tours website described the hot spring site as a “tranquil haven” and a “favorite” among hikers. The owner of a local hotel was confused when tourists began arriving in droves. She received constant calls and encountered several visitors each day looking for the nonexistent attraction. This isn’t the first time AI has misled travelers. In Peru, two tourists set off for a fictional canyon until a local guide overheard their conversation and stopped them. Despite such
Scientists are closer to growing crops on the Moon after successfully cultivating chickpeas in simulated lunar soil. Moon soil is normally difficult for plants to grow in because it contains high levels of metals and lacks organic matter and microorganisms. To solve this, researchers added worm-produced compost, which contains essential microbes to improve the soil structure. They also treated the plant roots with a solution containing fungi that supply nutrients and help protect the plants from harmful metals. Results showed that treated plants could grow in mixtures containing up to 75% lunar soil. Furthermore, the fungi successfully
1. 這本書的作者是誰？ ˇ Who is the author of this book? χ Who is the writer of this book? 註︰writer 是「作家」，範圍比較廣；author 是「作者」，指文章、小說、書本的著作者，兩者略有不同。 2. 他們兩人中一個進入屋內，另一個留在外面。 ˇ One of the two went inside; the other did not. χ One of the two went inside; the another did not. 註︰another ＝ an ＋ other，不可加 the。提到的人或物只有兩個時，講到「另一個」用the other，不用 another。 提到的人或物有兩個以上，講到「另一個」則須用 another，不用 the other。共有兩個人，「一個在屋裏，一個在外面」，說 One was in the room; the other was outside.。 3. 那流浪漢憤怒地向他吼叫。 ˇ The tramp roared at him in great anger. χ The tramp roared at him in indignation. 註︰indignation 是對不正義的事件表示氣憤、憤慨，這裏用 indignation 是錯誤的。在下列情況下，可用 indignation： Reports of child abuse aroused public indignation. She was filled with indignation at the conditions under which miners were forced to work. 4.
RSS