A free permanent exhibition dedicated to the art of perfumery in the heart of a former Parisian theatre.

This is the third museum in Paris from this house. The first is on Rue Scribe, just steps from the Palais Garnier. The second is a short walk away, in Square de l’Opéra–Louis Jouvet. The third address stays in the Opéra district. Head to Boulevard des Capucines, between Rue de la Paix and Rue Scribe, to discover the Théâtre du Parfum.

This venue is located in the former Théâtre des Capucines, a live-performance space that operated until 1973. Renowned stars have graced its stage, with Arletty and Gaby Morlay among the most notable highlights.

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The architecture of the venue has been carefully restored and preserved: you can still see the ceiling mouldings, the red carpet, the grand curtain, and the former theatre stage. But replacing costumes and theatre props, visitors now encounter ancient objects that chart the history of cosmetics and perfume, from Oriental and Western antiquity to the present day.

The exhibition focuses on a single floor of thematic display cases. The explanatory texts are fairly understated, and the tour moves along quickly. It’s a little gem worth checking out if you’re in the area or as part of a museum-hopping route through the various museums scattered across Paris.

Here you'll discover a chronological journey. Apothecaries, the medicinal virtues of plants, a glovemaker–perfumer, the fashion of fragrances under Louis XIV... Across the ages and cultures, perfumes have been assigned different roles and beliefs. In the grand gallery of the Théâtre du Parfum, Fragonard evokes Paris’s place in the industry. Capital of fashion and luxury, the City of Light saw perfume rise as a luxury commodity. A variety of objects tell this transformation: flacons, boxes and scented accessories, toiletry sets, gloves, handkerchiefs...

This renewed image of luxury is prompting fragrance houses to craft more refined, precious objects, alongside signature scents that crystallize an olfactory identity. The fashion houses are also embracing this element, adding a finishing touch to a silhouette’s identity. A lure for lovers of luxury and perfume.