The perfume industry of the French Riviera dates back to the 18th century when Grasse, an inland town an hour's train ride to the west of Villefranche, became known as the perfume capital of the world. This was due to the splendid microclimate that encouraged the culture of flowers and aromatic plants such as lavender and jasmine, enabling the creation of top quality perfumes. The industry continues to thrive today and is a great draw for visitors to the Riviera, with almost 14.000 hectares of aromatic plants in the region. The historical perfume producers Galimard, Fragonard and Molinard have large plants in Grasse and the first two also have smaller production facilities in the spectacular village of Eze, just a short hop away from Villefranche-sur-Mer.