Paris is the perfume capital of the world, and one of the most unique experiences you can have on a trip to Paris is a custom perfume-making workshop. Offered by both historic perfume houses and independent perfumers, these classes are a great way to have a uniquely Parisian experience and to come home with a one-of-a-kind souvenir.
I recently did a custom perfume workshop in Paris, and I have to say that it was one of the highlights of my trip. I went with a well-established fragrance brand whose scents I already enjoy, and I signed up for their longer class that gives participants access to a wider range of notes. I ended up learning some new things about perfume and creating a completely unique scent that I absolutely love.
Carly’s Note: I paid in full for my perfume-making workshop and didn’t disclose that I am a blogger.
Perfume Workshops in Paris: An Introduction
There are several different perfume workshops in Paris. Some are delivered by iconic French perfume houses, while others are from independent master perfumers. Here are a few of the different perfume workshops in Paris that have great reviews:
- ⭐ Paris Perfume Creation Workshop at Molinard– This is the workshop that I chose! Keep reading to see what you can expect…
- Two-Hour Perfume Creation Workshop at Candora – Candora is an independent perfume shop in Paris that has its own perfume line, with each scent focused on (but not exclusively blended from) a single note. At this two-hour workshop you’ll spend one hour learning about the artistry of perfume, and then a second hour blending your own.
- Private Olfactory Escape at Le Studio des Parfums – This 90-minute private workshop will have you working directly with a perfumer to explore 180 perfume notes and craft your own scent in a 30-ml take-home bottle.
- Personalized Perfumes with Stephanie de Bruijn – Stephanie de Bruijn is an award-winning perfumer from the South of France. She has her own perfume line and now individuals can also have a private lesson with this master parfumer in Paris.
I need to add that while you can also do a workshop at Fragonard (the company that also runs the perfume museum) I can’t recommend it because there is minimal personalization. At Fragonard, everyone has to start with the same pre-blended base, instead of crafting their own. 👎🏻
The Molinard Perfume Workshop in Paris
I spent several weeks researching different perfume-making workshops in Paris, and as I mentioned ultimately I decided to go with Molinard.
There were a few reasons for my choice, but the main one was that I already owned and loved two scents from the brand (Habanita and the original Nirmala). Since I knew Molinard could make perfumes that I enjoyed, I hoped they could also help me make my own perfume that I would enjoy just as much!
Molinard Perfume Workshop Locations
Molinard runs perfume-making workshops at two locations in Paris:
- Molinard Paris 1er – Located in the first arrondissement, this perfume workshop is about two blocks north of the Louvre.
- Molinard Paris Boutique 6ieme – Across the river in the trendy Saint-Germain-des-Pres neighborhood, this is where most of the brand’s workshops take place.
My Experience at a Molinard Perfume Workshop in Paris
For context, I am a huge fan of perfumes and I have a fairly large, but curated collection. My most-worn scents are Tom Ford’s Orchid Soleil, Chloe’s Nomade Eau de Parfum Naturelle (specifically that version, not the original), Zadig & Voltaire This is Her and Perris Monte Carlo Ylang-Ylang Nosy Be.
The things my favorite perfumes have in common are notes of white and yellow florals, creamy and lactonic notes, and solar notes. So, I was going into this experience hoping that I could create something that would create a similar vibe. I was also hoping to learn more about perfumery and about the house of Molinard.
The Molinard Atelier
I went to the Molinard workshop in Saint-Germain-des-Pres, just across from the Saint-Sulpice Church and a block from Citypharma. The reception is in the Molinard boutique, and when everyone has arrived you are taken next door to the atelier, or workshop.
Inside the workshop there were two tables set up – one for the guests who had chosen the shorter perfume-making workshop (perfect for older children) and one for those of us who signed up for the full perfume-making class. There was space for about ten people at each table, with an “organ” of perfume notes in the center of the table. I had access to 90 different notes as part of the full course, and they were organized on the spinning organ into top notes, middle notes and base notes.
The Perfume-Making Process
Our workshop was led by an English-speaking instructor who walked us through the stages of building a perfume. First, we had time to smell the different scents and record our impressions about which we enjoyed and might want to combine.
Then, our instructor showed us how to build our perfume pyramid, with three top notes, three middle notes and four base notes. Using paper strips dipped separately into each essence, we would then fan the strips together to see how the notes worked in conjunction with one another. Once we had one set each of top, middle and base notes, we fanned them all together as a set of ten to see how they fit together.
As someone who is knowledgeable about perfume, I had a good idea about the notes that I wanted to combine. However, most of the people in my group needed more support in choosing their notes, and the instructor was happy to guide them.
Once we were pleased with our notes, the instructor smelled them, offered suggestions and recommended which notes we feature more of in the formula, and which we should scale back. She then disappeared for a few minutes with our note pyramids, and when she returned she had calculated exactly how many millimeters of each scent should be included in the final fifty-milliliter bottle.
The most important part of the process came next. Using ten clean plastic droppers, we measured out precise quantities of each note and added them to our bottles. We started with the base notes, then added in the middle notes, and finally ended with the top notes. This was the most challenging part of the process, as you had to have good vision (to read the milliliter markings on the droppers) and steady hands (to transfer the perfume into your personal bottle).
Once all ten notes had been added, we sealed our bottles and gently rolled them between our hands for a minute, giving the scents time to combine. And with that, we were done!
Check Workshop Prices and Availability
The Finished Perfume
While you can spray your perfume right away, it’s better to let it macerate in the bottle for at least a week. This will give the fragrance oils and alcohols time to fully combine, and it will better showcase the middle and base notes, not just the top notes. After ten days my perfume was much richer and more complex then it had been shortly after being blended.
Here is the breakdown of the notes that went into my final custom perfume:
When the instructor smelled my initial formulation she said, “It smells like a summer night!” That is exactly what I was going for – a little bit tropical, a little bit sweet, a little bit nutty. I think I was the only person in the group who went in that direction with their scent, as florals and fresh scents seemed more popular with the others in my course.
You wouldn’t believe how long it took me to settle on that chocolate note in the base – I initially went through vanilla, caramel and even hazelnut before deciding chocolate was what the scent needed.
When I sprayed my new perfume in the workshop the top notes were very strong compared to the rest, but even after just waiting a few days and spraying again I can smell more of the middle and base notes when I’m wearing it. When I finish writing this review I plan to put the perfume back in its box and leave it alone until I’m back home in Canada next month, which should be ample time for the notes to fully integrate.
Molinard keeps your formula on file so that you can re-order your custom scent without needing to return all the way to Paris. I asked the instructor how often people re-order and she said her boutique gets about ten orders per week (which is 500 per year!) – people really do fall in love with the scents they make in Paris and the memories those scents evoke!
Would I make my own perfume in Paris again?
Absolutely! When I was finished making my perfume I could already envision several other scents that I would like to try custom-blending myself: something fresher using citrus notes, and something creamier using rice notes. I seriously considered booking a second workshop… if only I had more time!
Book This Paris Perfume Workshop
Other Five-Star Excursions and Experiences in Paris
I spend half my time in Paris just wandering around, and the other half doing some really cool activities, excursions and experiences (like this perfume-making class!). I definitely recommend doing a wine and cheese tasting while you’re there, and to see more of my favorites, head over to my Paris shop on Viator.
No time for a workshop? Check out my guide to the best niche perfume stores in Paris.
I’ve also got lots more Paris travel tips in my France archives, including the best free things to do indoors in Paris, a guide to using the Paris Museum Pass and my recommendations for where to stay in Paris.
Planning a trip to Paris? Pin this post for later!
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