FIELD
OF
DRE AMS
THE WORLD OF
FRAGRANCE IS
SHROUDED IN TRADE
SECRETS, SO ELLE
TRAVELLED TO GRASSE,
FRANCE, TO LIFT THE VEIL
ON THE ANCIENT
PRACTICES THAT GO INTO
MAKING A BELOVED
PERFUMEAS HISTORICAL FRENCH estates go, Château de
La Colle Noire, the former Provençal residence of
Christian Dior, exceeds anything you could hope
to see on Escape To The Country – that is, beyond
your wildest retire-to-the-South of France dreams.
The 19th century property, nestled in the hinterlands
of the Côte d’Azure, traded hands several times
after Dior’s death in 1957, but was bought and
beautifully restored by Parfums Christian Dior six
years ago. The home now stands as a private mini
museum, fitted out with details of Dior’s life. A
garden was non-negotiable and right now, actor
and friend of the house Sarah Ellen is skipping
around the small plot of the fashion icon’s favourite
bloom, the May rose. In her element, she’s travelled
to Grasse to experience the flower’s harvest.
“There was a romance between Mr. Dior and
roses,” she says, clearly already under the spell.The May roses bloom for
just a short time in May
Friend of Dior, Sarah Ellen,
visits the rose harvestWORDS BY
JANNA JOHNSON
O’TOOLEPHOTOGRAPHY BY
TED O’DONNELL