The official opening of ICON’S 26, the temporary gallery dedicated to Asian artistic perfumery at the Musée International de la Parfumerie in Grasse, brought together around 200 fragrance industry stakeholders and international guests, marking the official launch of the exhibition’s program.
The inauguration was attended by representatives of the project’s main partners – the Musée International de la Parfumerie, Cosmoprof, Esxence and centdegres China — together with institutional representatives, including the Mayor of Grasse, as well as participating brands, fragrance professionals and guests from across the international perfume community.
With 28 participating brands from 11 Asian countries and markets, ICON’S 26 presents a diverse selection of contemporary artistic perfumery. South Korea and China are the most represented markets, alongside brands from Japan, India, Vietnam, the Philippines, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Singapore and Thailand.
The official opening therefore represented not only the beginning of the exhibition, but also an opportunity to strengthen connections between the Asian fragrance community and the European network of professionals that gathers in Grasse.
For the organizing partners, the participation of nearly 200 industry professionals at the inauguration is an important recognition of the value of creating a dedicated platform for professional exchange, cultural dialogue and greater visibility for Asian artistic perfumery within the international fragrance landscape. “ICON’S 26 represents an important opportunity for international exchange, bringing together Asian artistic perfumery and the professional community of Grasse. Internationality and the creation of connections across markets are at the heart of Cosmoprof DNA as a global platform for the beauty industry, and initiatives such as ICON’S reflect this commitment by fostering dialogue between brands, professionals, institutions and different fragrance cultures”, highlighted Enrico Zannini, General Manager of BolognaFiere Cosmoprof. “We are particularly pleased to strengthen our collaboration with the Musée International de la Parfumerie and the City of Grasse through this initiative, and we look forward to developing further opportunities together in the future. The strong participation at the opening is an encouraging demonstration of the value of bringing international fragrance communities together in Grasse.”
“Together with BolognaFiere Cosmoprof, we are delighted to contribute to an initiative where different voices can meet, share and grow together, spreading olfactory culture across the globe. Fragrance is a universal language, and there is no single way to experience it: every cultural background brings its own stories and emotions. In Asia, for example, fragrance has always been related to ritual, nature and personal expression. Esxence was born from a clear vision: to celebrate the unique world of artistic perfumery. Our mission for the next five years is to promote olfactory awareness: perfume is not just a fashion trend, it is a state of being.”, highlighted Maurizio Cavezzali, CEO of Esxence – The Art Perfumery Event.
“On 26th September, Grasse opened a new chapter, bringing distant cultures together through perfume, here in our city. Grasse welcomes, Grasse connects, Grasse creates. With ICON’S 26, we bring our unique perfume heritage into dialogue with the new creative energy coming from Asia. Together with our partners Cosmoprof and Esxence, who chose Grasse and the International Perfume Museum to bring this project to life, we are creating a new connection between Asia and one of the world’s most emblematic places for perfume”, highlighted Jérôme Viaud, Mayor of Grasse and President of the Pays de Grasse Agglomeration Community.
“Asia today is an extraordinary territory of creation, with houses and independent creators developing very distinctive visions. Their work draws from deep cultural histories, but it is not defined by the past. It is ambitious, contemporary and often remarkably experimental. ICON’S 26 creates a space where these different creative voices can meet, be experienced and understood on their own terms. Tonight in Grasse, capital of perfume, our Italian and French team are proud to open this new historical chapter”, said Matthieu Rochette-Schneider, General Manager, centdegrés China.
ICON’S 26 will remain open to the public at the Musée International de la Parfumerie in Grasse from September 2026 to January 2027.
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