Symposium 2025: Perfume-related know-how in the Grasse Region facing 21st century challenges

  • Science and society
Published on October 30, 2025 – Updated on November 4, 2025
Dates

from November 28, 2025 to November 29, 2025

Location
Musée International de la Parfumerie (Grasse)
SYMPOSIUM 2025 Perfume-related Know-how in the Grasse Region Facing 21st Century Challenges
SYMPOSIUM 2025 Perfume-related Know-how in the Grasse Region Facing 21st Century Challenges

Alain Prette will take part in the 2025 Symposium organized by the Association Patrimoine Vivant du Pays de Grasse.

Inscribed by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, the perfume-related know-how of the Grasse region must now meet numerous challenges: adapting to climate change, technological innovations, evolving markets, and transmission to new generations. The 2025 symposium offers two days to explore these issues through panel discussions bringing together researchers, professionals, and institutional stakeholders. Topics will include:
  • The cultivation of perfume plants facing climate, economic, and regulatory pressures;
  • Innovations in extraction and sustainability;
  • The impact of big data and artificial intelligence on creation;
  • The transmission of know-how between families, schools, and institutions.
Full details and registration


Program

Friday, November 28

8:30 am | Coffee welcome

9:00 am | Official speeches

10:00 am – 11:00 am | PANEL 1
PERFUME PLANT CULTIVATION: CLIMATE, ECONOMIC AND REGULATORY CHALLENGES
Moderator: Gabriel Bouillon, Agricultural Mission Officer for the Pays de Grasse
Speakers:
· Jean-Noël Falcou, Head of Agricultural Sectors at Jean GAZIGNAIRE - MUL Group
· Justine Lipuma, Mycophyto
· Lucie Monticelli, Evolutive Agronomy

11:00 am – 12:00 pm | PANEL 2
EXTRACTION TECHNIQUES AND CIRCULAR ECONOMY: INNOVATION AND SUSTAINABILITY
Moderator: Gislene Da Silva, Innov'alliance
Speakers:
· Xavier Fernandez, Vice-President for Innovation and Research Valorization - Université Côte-d'Azur
· Anne-Sylvie Tixier, Head of the UNESCO Partnership Chair in Green & Sustainable Plant Chemistry
· Céline Louis Ughetto, Innovation Director, Givaudan

12:00 pm – 1:30 pm | Break

2:00 pm – 3:00 pm | PANEL 3
THE PERFUMES OF TOMORROW: BIG DATA AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
Moderator: Jérémie Topin, Associate Professor, Université Côte d'Azur – ChEmoSim Research Group
Speakers:
· Sébastien Fiorruci, Associate Professor HDR, Université Côte-d'Azur
· Alain Prette, 3IA Head of Innovation and Partnerships, Centre Inria d'Université Côte-d'Azur
· Cyril Mestre, Technical Perfumer, DSM-Firmenich

3:00 pm – 4:00 pm | PANEL 4
FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION: TRANSMISSION OF KNOW-HOW THROUGH SCHOOLS, FAMILIES AND INSTITUTIONS
Moderator: Christine Saillard, Director of Public Programming and Cultural Programming, Musées de Grasse
Speakers:
· Cyrille Carles, Perfumer Nose – Grandson of Jean Carles
· Armelle Janody, Les Fleurs d'exception du Pays de Grasse
· Jessica Buchanan, Independent Perfumer and Teacher, 1000 Flowers

4:30 pm | PRESENTATION
Partnership Chair "Heritage of Aromas, Perfumes and Cosmetics in the Pays de Grasse," by Fondation UNICA with the support of Université Côte-d'Azur and the Communauté d'Agglomération du Pays de Grasse.

Saturday, November 29
Public programming (workshops, visits, performances, screenings) will open these reflections to everyone, inviting them to discover perfume as art, science, and living heritage.