Has anyone had any experiences touring perfume factories or outlets in either France or Italy.

My SIL is travelling with us and mentioned this. Not sure I want to spend my time going, but my daughter and her might enjoy it.

I toured one in Provence -- it wasn't the actual factory any more, as it was in Grasse, but they had some displays and explained their history, etc.

I don't think there are any actual factories making perfume right in Paris, real estate is too expensive for that. There is a perfume "museum" where they have some displays etc., similar to what I saw in Grasse. That is by Fragonard and is on rue Scribe near the Opera Garnier. But if you actually want to view a real factory making perfume, you have to go to some industrial area which will likely be in the country or at least suburbs of a city. That isn't an outlet or discount store in Paris, so if your main goal is to get cheap perfume -- well, I don't know where you'd go. They sold some at the one I went to in Grasse, but it wasn't particularly cheap.

If you mean places where you can see well-known-label perfumes being made, I would doubt if they exist in Paris or Rome, apart from the custom parfumiers who will craft bespoke scents.

Thanks for the information. That is kind of what I thought and I certainly don't want to spend time watching perfume be made!

There is a factory store for Carthusia on the isle of Capri.

Fodor's resident perfume expert.

If you want just discount perfume in Paris, try Catherine or Michel Swiss.

I am assuming Catherine and Micheal Swiss are stores.

Thanks for the information.

Sorry, they ARE shops. Both are well known but I do not have the addreses handy. Both on the Right Bank...someone else can give the address, I am sure. I THINK these are the best places to shop for discount scents in Paris, apart from the Duty Free. You cannot get Guerlain at the discount shops, however. (So I need to buy one of my favorites at their shop or at the airport!) I should say that I have not been in Paris in 4 years so there may be new developments on the perfume shopping front that I am not aware of. Have fun!

Thanks for the info. We are so excited to be going to Europe.