Climate crisis brings whiff of danger to French perfume capital

In Grasse, droughts, heatwaves, and excessive rainfall have made growing flowers increasingly difficult

When heatwaves used to hit the French town of Grasse, the perfume capital of the world, townspeople didn't water their flowers. Instead, they marched along the town's cobblestone streets, in a procession towards the church.

They were calling for rain from the spirits," says Carole Biancalana, a fourth-generation perfume flower producer whose grandmother participated in the rain ceremonies. But I don't think this procession would cut it in today's climate."