Perfume creation workshop in Grasse, French Riviera
Join a perfume creation workshop in Grasse. Learn perfume making in the French Riviera and craft your personal scent with expert guidance.
Perfume creation workshop in Grasse offers a direct immersion into the art of perfume making. Located in the heart of the French Riviera, this experience introduces participants to the world of olfactory creation. Grasse is considered the historical centre of perfume making in France, and this workshop connects visitors to that tradition.
In this hands-on activity, participants learn how to compose their own scent using professional tools and techniques. The process includes understanding perfume structure and working with natural and synthetic essences. Guided by a professional perfumer, each participant blends base, heart, and top notes to create a unique formula.
This perfume workshop is designed to be accessible to all. No previous experience is required. Over the course of a few hours, guests learn the basics of scent architecture while working directly with raw materials. The result is a custom fragrance bottled and labeled to take home.
Perfume making in the French Riviera is not only a creative activity—it is also a learning process. It’s a way to understand materials, proportions, and sensory balance. This perfume creation workshop in Grasse brings together professional expertise and personal creativity.
Where and When
Location
The perfume creation workshop in Grasse takes place at Molinard’s perfume house. The building is located in the centre of Grasse, 20 km (12.4 miles) from Cannes and 45 km (28 miles) from Nice. Grasse is easily accessible by train, car or shuttle from the coast.
Dates and availability
Workshops are offered year-round, from Monday to Saturday. Sessions are available in the morning and afternoon. Some additional slots are offered in summer. Advance booking is recommended, especially from May to September. Get in touch to check availibilty.
The experience
Learning perfume structure
The perfume workshop begins with a short introduction to perfume structure. Participants learn how a fragrance is built using three layers: top notes, heart notes, and base notes. The session includes insights into the materials used—natural extracts, synthetic molecules like musk, and blended accords.
Working with the perfumer’s organ
Each participant sits at a “perfumer’s organ”, a structured display of 90 different fragrance essences. Like a music composition desk, it allows guests to explore and compare multiple olfactory profiles. With guidance, participants select their preferred notes and begin the blending process.
Blending your personal formula
Using a graduated pipette, participants mix their chosen notes. The perfumer offers advice on balance, dosage, and harmony. Each blend is based on the participant’s preferences, but supported by technical guidance. This ensures a stable, wearable fragrance.
Final bottling
At the end of the session, the personal formula is bottled in a 90 ml (3 oz) spray bottle. The label can be customized with a name or personal message. The formula is also kept on file by Molinard, allowing for future reorders if desired. Reorders are priced around €55 (£47 / $60).
Duration and group size
Each session lasts 1h30 to 2h. The experience can be booked privately or as a shared session.
The tools and materials
Participants work with:
- Natural raw materials: jasmine, rose, bergamot, patchouli, sandalwood.
- Synthetic notes: white musk, marine accord, green tea molecule.
- Perfumer’s organ: 90 essences organized by note type.
- Pipettes and flasks: calibrated for precise dosage.
- Personal workstation: individual table with tools and essences.
Each material is presented with background explanations. Participants learn both by doing and by smelling.
Benefits of the experience
Perfume creation workshop in Grasse offers a combination of practical learning and creative freedom. It allows each participant to:
- Understand the basics of perfume making.
- Work directly with real perfumer tools and essences.
- Build a unique fragrance adapted to personal taste.
- Gain insight into the cultural importance of perfume in the French Riviera.
- Keep a bottle of their own formula.
- Reorder the same formula later.
This perfume making activity is accessible and structured. It introduces key skills and allows hands-on application. Whether for personal interest or as a gift, it is a meaningful and sensory experience.
Conditions and restrictions
- Minimum age: 6 years
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Advance booking required
- Language: French and English
- Workshop not accessible to people with strong scent allergies
- Not recommended during pregnancy (due to exposure to raw materials)
- No prior experience required
Back to Create your own perfume.