Paris: Create your Signature Scent Perfume Workshop

Paris has plenty of grand sights, but this workshop gives you something much harder to find: a scent made by you. Under the guidance of Marina Jung, a perfumer and teacher with 20 years of experience, you test raw materials, blend three trial fragrances, and take your favorite home in a colorful 50 ml bottle.

I like the small groups of no more than ten and the freedom to experiment with 60 notes, from rose and jasmine to woods, musks, and blackcurrant. I also like that you keep your formulas, so a favorite can be reordered later. The main drawback is that three trials and 90 minutes may feel short if you want a full lesson in perfume chemistry.

• Three trial perfumes: Mix your own formulas, then choose one final scent for a 50 ml bottle.
• Sixty scent notes: Explore floral, fruity, woody, musky, and other perfume materials.
• Marina Jung’s guidance: Get practical help from a teacher with two decades of experience.
• Small, personal setting: Groups are limited to ten, and the workshop takes place in a cozy apartment or studio.
• A useful Paris souvenir: Take home a wearable fragrance rather than another ordinary trinket.
• Flexible booking: Pay later and cancel up to 24 hours before the activity for a full refund.

What the 90-minute perfume workshop is really about

This is not a quick spray-and-shop stop at a department store. You sit down and make a fragrance from individual scent materials, learning how a perfumer, often called a nose, thinks about balance and structure.

The class introduces two basic ideas: notes and chords. A note is an individual scent impression or raw material, such as rose, jasmine, woods, musk, or currant. A chord is a combination of notes that produces a larger effect, much like several musical notes forming a chord.

You also learn why a perfume does not smell exactly the same from the first spray to the final dry-down. Some ingredients appear quickly and fade sooner. Others take longer to emerge and stay on the skin or scent strip. That simple lesson helps explain why choosing a perfume from one quick sniff can be misleading.

The teaching is designed to be accessible. You do not need previous perfume experience, and you are not expected to arrive with a trained nose. If you already know something about fragrance, you can work with more freedom. If you know nothing at all, Marina gives you a starting point and helps you sort out what you like.

Meeting Marina Jung in her Paris workshop

The experience is hosted by Marina Jung of ABC du Parfum. The setting is described as a beautiful, clean, warm, and cozy apartment or studio, rather than a large commercial classroom. That matters because the mood feels closer to a private lesson than a standard group attraction.

The group limit is ten people, though smaller sessions are possible. The format allows Marina to move around the table, answer questions, and comment on your developing formulas. A small group also makes it easier to compare ideas without feeling lost in a crowd.

The meeting instructions say Marina will meet you at the supplied address ten minutes before the workshop begins. Pay close attention to that address and allow a little extra time. One practical complaint has been that the location can be hard to find because there may be no clear signs, so do not assume you will spot a big storefront from the street.

The exact setting is part of the charm, but it also means this is not a formal museum-style venue with obvious public signage. Confirm the meeting details before setting out, especially if you have a tight schedule afterward.

Choosing from 60 notes without losing your nose

The workshop’s main pleasure is the sheer range of materials. You may be offered floral choices such as rose and jasmine, fruitier notes such as currant, and less immediately familiar woods and musks. The point is not to identify every material perfectly. It is to notice your response and learn how different ingredients work together.

At first, 60 choices can sound like too many. Marina’s method keeps the process manageable. You select the facets that appeal to you, then build combinations in a simple, guided way. Her feedback helps when two ideas smell good alone but do not work well together, or when a small adjustment brings the formula into better balance.

I recommend approaching this with a rough idea of what you enjoy, not a fixed final recipe. Think about favorite flowers, clean or warm scents, woods, fruit, or the smell of a particular memory. The workshop can connect fragrance to memories and personal preferences, but you still need to leave room for surprises.

Do not judge every blend immediately. A formula may seem sharp at first and soften later. Another may smell lovely at the start but lose the quality you liked. The lesson about changing notes is not just theory. It helps you make a better final choice.

Creating three trial perfumes

You will make three small trial perfumes during the workshop. This is a useful structure because it gives you room to compare different directions instead of putting all your hopes into one first attempt.

One trial might lean floral, another woody, and a third might combine notes you would not have paired on your own. The exact recipes are yours to shape. Marina can suggest changes, but the finished scent is based on your choices.

The three trials also suit people with different levels of confidence. You can make one safe choice, one bolder blend, and one completely different formula. That turns the workshop into a small experiment rather than a test with a right answer.

There is one limitation: the trial bottles are small, and one person wished there had been five instead of three. Three is enough to understand the process, but it may not satisfy you if you want to explore many different styles in detail. The 90-minute schedule keeps the activity focused, but it does not leave unlimited time for repeated revisions.

Picking your favorite scent for the final bottle

At the end, you choose one of your three formulas for the full-size bottle. The included bottle holds 50 milliliters and comes with packaging, giving you a meaningful amount to use at home rather than a tiny souvenir vial.

The bottles are colorful and attractive, which adds a nice personal touch. This is a perfume you design, but the presentation still feels like a finished Paris purchase. You are not simply carrying home a sample from a classroom.

Choosing the final scent can be surprisingly difficult. Your first favorite may change as the blends develop. If you are torn, ask Marina for help and smell the options again after some time has passed. The workshop format allows you to test before making the final decision, which is important because the first impression may not be the lasting one.

If two formulas appeal to you, an additional bottle can be purchased for 30 euros. That option is not required, and there is no stated pressure to buy beyond the included bottle. The extra-bottle price is reasonable if two people in a couple or family each want a different scent, or if you cannot bear to leave your second choice behind.

You can also keep your formulas and reorder your perfume later. That makes the activity more useful than a one-off holiday souvenir. Your first bottle may become a reminder of Paris, while a later order lets you replace it without starting from scratch.

The teaching style and language options

Marina’s main strength is her patient, hands-on instruction. She explains the basic chemistry and structure without turning the session into a technical lecture. You learn enough to understand what you are doing, then spend most of the time making choices and testing results.

The activity is offered in French, English, and Spanish. That is especially helpful during a scent workshop, where small differences in meaning can affect your choices. You should be able to describe what you like, what you dislike, and what you want to change.

The teaching works for beginners and for people who already enjoy perfume. A parent and teenage daughter can take part together, and the activity also suits couples, friends, and solo visitors. It is a good choice for someone who is hesitant about perfume because there is no need to arrive with specialist knowledge.

The pace may feel less satisfying if you want a long lecture about perfume history, famous houses, extraction methods, or advanced formulation. The focus is practical: smell, combine, test, adjust, and choose. You get a working introduction rather than a professional perfumery course.

Who will enjoy this most

I would recommend this to you if you want a personal activity that fits neatly into a Paris afternoon. It works especially well for:

• Couples who want different souvenirs from the same experience
• Parents and teenagers aged seven and older
• Friends who enjoy creative activities
• Solo visitors looking for a social but calm class
• Perfume fans who want to understand notes and chords
• People who prefer making something to simply buying something

It is also suitable for men and women. The ingredients and final formulas are not limited to traditional ideas about feminine perfume. You can build something floral, woody, musky, fruity, or mixed according to your own taste.

Children under seven cannot take part, and the activity is not suitable for pregnant women. Pets are not allowed, though assistance dogs are permitted. Audio recording is also not allowed.

Is $115 a fair price?

At $115 per person, this is not a budget activity. You are paying for a guided class, the raw materials, Marina’s instruction, and a packaged 50 ml bottle of your finished perfume.

The value depends on how you measure a souvenir. If you only want the cheapest fragrance, you can find less expensive options in Paris. If you want a personal object connected to an activity, the price makes more sense. You spend 90 minutes learning a skill, make three formulas, and leave with a usable bottle rather than a generic product.

The small group also matters. A class for ten or fewer gives you more attention than a large fragrance demonstration. Marina can respond to your preferences and help you make decisions instead of giving the same speech to a room full of people.

The included bottle is a good size, and the option to reorder your saved formula adds lasting value. The additional 30 euro bottle is worth considering only if you genuinely like a second scent. Do not treat it as part of the required price.

Practical planning for your Paris day

Allow more time than the 90-minute workshop itself. The meeting point can be difficult to identify, and the instructions ask you to meet Marina ten minutes before the start. Keep the exact address available on your phone and avoid arriving at the last minute.

Wear something comfortable and plan to focus on scent for the full session. Since you will compare many materials, it may be useful to avoid arriving covered in a strong personal fragrance, though no specific clothing rule is provided.

Do not plan food or drinks around the activity. They are not included, and the workshop is about perfume rather than refreshments. If you need a meal, arrange it before or after.

The booking terms are helpful for uncertain Paris schedules. You can reserve now and pay later, and cancellation up to 24 hours in advance qualifies for a full refund. Starting times vary, so check availability for your date.

What could be better

The biggest issue is the location. A private apartment or studio can create a warm, personal setting, but it may not have obvious signs. Clear directions and punctual arrival will make the start easier.

The room may also feel cool at times. Bring a light layer if you tend to get cold, especially since you will be seated and concentrating for most of the class.

The three-trial format is sensible but limited. You will not have time to make endless versions, and some people may want more sample bottles. If you are highly interested in perfumery, you may leave wishing for a longer technical explanation or more detail on scent combinations.

Late arrivals can interrupt a small class. One practical lesson is to arrive early, not only to find the address but also to avoid cutting into the first explanations. In a ten-person group, a few minutes of delay is more noticeable than it would be in a large tour.

Should you book the perfume workshop?

Book it if you want a creative Paris memory, enjoy scents, or prefer a small personal class to another sightseeing stop. The combination of 60 notes, three trial formulas, expert help from Marina Jung, and a 50 ml bottle gives the activity a clear purpose and a useful result.

Skip it if you dislike perfume, want a large museum-style presentation, or expect an advanced professional course in fragrance chemistry. The workshop is focused on making and experimenting, not on a long academic lesson.

For most visitors, the strongest reason to book is simple: you leave with a scent that belongs to your trip and to you. Confirm the meeting address, arrive early, and give yourself enough time to smell each formula before choosing your final bottle.

FAQ

How long does the perfume workshop last?

The workshop lasts 90 minutes.

How many trial perfumes will I create?

You will create three trial perfumes and choose one to receive in a 50 ml bottle.

What is included in the price?

The price includes the workshop, an experienced instructor, all needed raw materials, and one 50 ml bottle of your perfume with packaging.

Is the workshop available in English?

Yes. The instructor offers the workshop in French, English, and Spanish.

Can I buy another bottle?

Yes. An additional bottle is available for 30 euros, and you can keep your formulas to reorder your perfumes later.

Who cannot take part in the workshop?

The activity is not suitable for children under seven or pregnant women. Pets are not allowed, though assistance dogs are permitted. Audio recording is also not allowed.