She has a love for Provence and a taste for simplicity – Karine Dubreuil, master perfumer trained at the prestigious Roure School of Perfumery and has worked with many major perfume houses. She is “the nose” behind many famous fragrances and has now strengthened her bond with L’Occitane by working alongside Olivier Baussan to create La Collection de Grasse – a fragrance collection inspired by Karine’s childhood town. I have never been so swept away by perfumes before. Each of these extraordinary scents transports me to another time, place and experience. It’s almost indescribable.

L’Occitane – La Collection de Grasse Magnolia & Mure and Jasmin & Bergamote

L’Occitane de Provence Boutique

L’Occitane de Provence Boutique

I recently attended the product launch of L’Occitane’s new fragrance collection,  which was held at the beautiful L’Occitane retail store at Yorkdale Mall. Other members of the media were also there, including City Line. The appetizers were inspired by flavour extracts used in the perfumes (i.e. vanilla, bergamote) and were absolutely delicious! 

The collection, which is releasing just in time for Mother’s Day pays homage to the school of Grasse, where the greatest perfumers were trained and uses essential oils and the extracts below to create the most memorable scents.  This exceptional fragrance collection

After a brief presentation, we were each invited to smell and test out each of the new fragrances. Of the four, I would say only the Vert & Bigarade was outside my comfort zone but the others were just beautiful! My favourite scent had to be the Magnolia & Mure, which isn’t surprising since I seem to always gravitate towards more “fruity” scents. In addition to the Eau de Toilette fragrances in the collection, soaps ($10/125g), body milks ($24/175ml) and shower gels ($20/175ml) are also available. Look out for this collection to pop up in Canadian L’Occitane boutiques May 2013. 

The extracts chosen for this collection take you on a wonderful journey! Magnolia (from the Far East) Blackberry (from the South of France) Green Tea (from Japan) Bitter Orange (from Tunisia)Vanilla (from Madagascar) Narcissus (from France) Jasmine (from Grasse & Egypt) Bergamot (from Italy)

Sampling Table L’Occitane de Provence – La Collection de Grasse – Available May 2013

L’Occitane de Provence Magnolia & Mure from La Collection de Grasse – $75.00 / 75ml

L’Occitane de Provence The Vert & Bigarade from La Collection de Grasse – $75.00 / 75ml

L’Occitane de Provence Jasmin & Bergamote from La Collection de Grasse – $75.00 / 75ml

L’Occitane de Provence Vanille & Narcisse from La Collection de Grasse – $75.00 / 75ml

La Collection de Grasse fragrances that we were sent home with!