Perfume creation and Wine tasting on the French Riviera

This full-day outing from Nice pairs two crafts rooted in the landscapes behind the coast: perfumery and winemaking. Rather than simply watching, you take part, first in making a perfume and then in a tasting of wine. The theme running through both is the sense of smell, and how it shapes what we perceive in a scent and in a glass. The experience is built around what the organisers call a dialogue of the senses. Aromas of perfume and aromas of wine are explored side by side, with attention to how smell and taste work together. You create a perfume yourself, then move on to an analytical tasting that teaches you to pick out and describe what you smell and taste. Two small, highly specific areas with a long history and traditional skills are at the heart of the day. One of those areas lies in the foothills of the Grasse Pre-Alps, the perfume country of the Riviera hinterland. Grasse built its reputation on fragrance, drawing on the flowers grown on its sunny slopes and on generations of skilled craftspeople. The town's perfumery tradition is still part of its identity today, and its hillside setting looks out toward the sea. The other area is Bellet, the small appellation on the hills just above Nice. Its vineyards climb Mediterranean slopes close to the city, making it one of the few wine regions in France that sits almost within a major urban area. Bellet is known for its local grape varieties and for wines produced in modest quantities, which makes it a fitting counterpart to the artisan world of perfume. The day suits curious travelers who like to get involved: anyone interested in scent, in wine, or in how the two relate. Expect hands-on moments rather than a purely passive visit, along with panoramic views as the landscape changes from the Pre-Alps foothills to the Mediterranean hills of Bellet. It is a good choice if you want a themed day away from the beach. Nice is well connected along the coast by train and road, so it makes an easy base for a day like this. Afterward, the Old Town, the Promenade des Anglais and the markets of Cours Saleya are all within reach for a relaxed evening. Grasse and the Bellet hills can also be explored further on separate days.