The gardens of the Musée International de la Parfumerie extend over nearly 7.5 acres (3 ha) around a bastide, an old canal, and an agricultural basin. They perpetuate the tradition of cultivating perfume plants in the open field which appeared at the end of the 17th century around Grasse. Cultivation was then done on the edge of the town, in terraced gardens of irrigated land supported by low walls. The construction of the Canal de la Siagne in 1868 enabled their golden age.