If your French hookup in Nice kind of smelled, you’d better thank Grasse. The perfume capital of France, Grasse is so famous for its fragrances that regional kings used to maneuver and fight for control over the rose fields back in the day. Blessed with the perfect climate, soil, and local species of rose, this is where they figured out that you could distill floral scents and apply it instead of bathing. While bathing has gained in popularity since the plague, the prevalence of perfume in France hasn’t waned, and Grasse has supplied it for nearly 300 years. You’d think that the city might be a little more active due to the large influx of tourists, but Grasse maintains a colorful small-town vibe; the perfumeries are about the only things here that consistently stay in business, and the resulting cheap land and foreclosed buildings have recently provided opportunities to a large influx of immigrants in the tiny town. Situated on top of the hills overlooking the valley to Cannes, you can find a stunning sight at the edge of any street or balcony in Grasse. Come, smell, and leave, because after the last bus leaves town, Grasse goes to sleep, with the exception of a couple of local bars and clubs that remain open on the weekends. You won’t find many tourists except during museum hours, but you’ll struggle to find cheap accommodations that haven’t already been booked up by old people in touring companies.