As Renee Watson mentioned in her Friday Life column last week: “Whether you are on a first date, a reunion or a night out, remember that your scent will linger in people’s minds long after it has left your skin...”

So true, which is why memories of a recent trip to Grasse – a small, medieval town 17 miles outside Nice, France – came flooding back. True, you may not know the name but you’ll certainly know it’s smell.

Or at least one of them, because believe it or not, Grasse is the perfume capital of the world.

A mighty boast and one I couldn’t resist being attracted to. Which is why I found myself at a place called the Fragonard Perfumery to try my hand at fragrance blending.

I had an apron marked “Apprenti Perfumeur”, a cabinet of essential oils, litmus paper and pipettes, but despite the paraphernalia and the fact I knew I WAS smelling good, I wasn’t exactly excelling.

In fact, what perplexed me was how I’d made such a mess of it; something the other new apprentices clearly blamed me for, and who was I to argue?

Every whiff made me, and those surrounding me, wince. In fact, it reminded me of the time I’d dumped my car at the airport and raced abroad on a breaking story, forgetting I’d just bought fish for supper.

Afterwards, I drove round for weeks breathing in a mixture of pine disinfectant, damp upholstery and cod.

Uncanny then that the eau de toilette sitting in front of me (the eau de toilette I had just created, remember) smelt precisely the same.

However, I consoled myself that this time at least I could pour the smell away. Meanwhile, our instructor briefly outlined some of Grasse’s association with fragrance, dating all the way back to the 16th century when tanneries, taking advantage of new trends in fashion, began making scented leather gloves.

Brought up sharply by the fact that everyone was suddenly looking at me, I realised my opinion was being sought of a fragrance oil called Tunisian neroli.

Yet before I could even mumble “I wasn’t really listening”, some smart-arse piped up “It smells like cinnamon,” clearly demonstrating a level of olefactory knowledge equal to that of our instructor, who impressed, added this piece of unforgettable advice: “When you smell, listen to your tongue...” Mmm.

Our instructor, whom I dubbed ‘The Nose’, encouraged us to associate the smell – which apparently develops on different levels or “faces” – with a colour.

My neighbour sensed “fluorescent lime”. The guy opposite “blood red”. While another talked of “cool, mint blue”.

But before I managed to identify any colour at all, the descriptions suddenly began to intensify: there was mention of waterfalls and 'woods teaming with mushrooms,' and then lo and behold, full-blown experiences: “The smell reminds me of the time I entered the coolness of a mosque on holiday” one individual remarked, while another added “I think it’s more like a smoky bonfire, after it’s rained.”

I sniffed, heartily, keen to participate, but again nothing came to mind. Instead I glanced at the 100ml of eau de toilette I’d done my best to blend, and realised, given my olfactory inadequacy, that perhaps it might best if, once home, I shelved any of the ideas I had dreamt up of marketing and making a mint out of my very own Air Wick collection.

Thankfully, the workshop ended without mine being tested (there IS a God) and when we gathered outside, everyone got spritzed, both with theirs and everyone else’s successes.

At least the air now exuded a zesty fruitiness and for the first time in hours, free of my own creation’s dreadful stench, I was able to appreciate that Old Spice and Lynx may have good reason to hold their noses high.

PS. Wish you were here? I don’t think so. The town was lovely but travelling all that way just to learn the ancient art of perfume design left me wishing I’d settled instead for a weekend by the pool.

ESSENTIALS Stay at le Mascandille hotel, in nearby Mougins. See lemascandille.com. Double room from £255 per night. Special deals July and August: double room and buffet breakfast for 2 for 6 nights from 2046 euros (£17,680).

Perfume blending session at Fragonard Museum fragonard.com from 59 euros (£50) Fly with easyjet LGW to Nice – from £70 each way: easyjet.com More info on France online at rendezvousen france.com