Perfume Masterclass in Florence: Make your Own Personal Fragrance

Florence has plenty of food tours and art tours. This one is different, because you leave with something you made using your own nose. You start in a 1700s apothecary-style workshop at Antica Erboristeria San Simone, surrounded by glassware and rare ingredients, and you turn that atmosphere into a real scent.

Two things I love: first, the mix of craft and place, where the setting is part of the story, not just decoration. Second, you bottle your own 30ml fragrance and get a certificate signed by the master perfumer. One possible drawback to think about is that the class can feel more hands-on than deep-theory, and some instruction in English may be briefer than you expect.

If you want a playful, memorable Florence souvenir that is also genuinely personal, this fits. And if Elena is on your team, she is the kind of staff member who keeps the room moving and makes the experience feel friendly and easy to follow.

Key Highlights You Should Know Before Booking

• Historic 1700s workshop setting inside Antica Erboristeria San Simone, with apothecary-style tools and rare essences
• Make and bottle your own 30ml fragrance, not just smell samples and watch
• A signed certificate from the master perfumer, plus a coffee or tea break during the session
• Small group size (max 15), so you are not lost in a crowd
• Base, heart, and top oil concept, explained in a way you can use while blending
• Ability to reorder later using the recipe your class creates

A 1700s Workshop in Florence, Where Perfume Starts as Ingredients

The heart of this experience is simple: you are not buying a perfume off a shelf. You are building one. The workshop at Antica Erboristeria San Simone leans into Florence’s old-world apothecary feel, with the kind of bottles and glassware you associate with old laboratories and Renaissance-era craft.

That matters, because fragrance is more than one smell. It is how scents play together over time. In a hands-on class like this, the setting helps you slow down. You start paying attention to small differences between notes, and that makes your final blend more satisfying when you wear it later.

Also, the room is designed for the task. Several people loved that it is a comfortable, relaxed space, and that makes a big difference when you are focusing on scent. If you get overwhelmed easily in noisy, crowded settings, this style of workshop is usually a calmer way to spend a couple of hours in Florence.

The Class Flow: From Master Guidance to Your Bottled 30ml Scent

Your session runs about 2 hours. You meet the master perfumer in the workshop, then you get a short introduction to how perfumery works and how Florence shaped its scent culture over time. After that comes the fun part, and it is very tactile.

Here is what you will actually do:

• You pick from a kit of essences in a guided setup.
• You smell and choose combinations that match your preferences.
• The staff then helps translate those choices into the right balance, including how many drops to use for each component.
• Finally, you bottle your creation into a 30ml bottle and label it as your personal fragrance.

In practice, the class is part design studio and part science desk, but without the intimidation. Many people found it straightforward. You are given time to try options, and you do not feel rushed through the tasting.

One helpful detail: the concept of base, heart, and top oils comes up during the blending. Even if you do not become a perfumer, knowing the idea helps you build a scent that has a beginning, middle, and finish instead of smelling flat right out of the bottle.

You also get a coffee, tea, or water break during the session. That break seems small, but it helps you reset your sense of smell. If you have been walking Florence streets all morning, that pause makes your final choices easier.

What Makes Antica Erboristeria San Simone Special

This stop is not just a meeting point. It is the product. Antica Erboristeria San Simone is the setting and the brand you are learning from, and the workshop is part of the store and artisanal laboratory.

That matters because the class ties into the local perfume tradition rather than feeling like a generic workshop. You are surrounded by the kind of place where scent ingredients are treated like serious materials. You feel that craft focus when you are choosing ingredients and when the staff helps finalize your blend.

You also get a sense of how Florentine perfume culture grew from apothecary work and Renaissance roots. Some people expected more lecture time and felt the history segment was shorter than advertised. Still, even when the instruction is brief, the environment supports the story. You are not just hearing about the tradition, you are standing in a space that looks built for it.

If you love shops that have personality, you will likely enjoy the surrounding store area as well. Many people say the shop itself is beautiful and that seeing the owners’ collection of perfume is part of the charm.

Value and Price: Is $84.69 Worth It?

At $84.69 per person, this is not a bargain. But it can feel fair if you look at what you get.

You are paying for:

• a guided session with a master perfumer,
• a structured ingredient selection process,
• staff help to balance your blend,
• a take-home 30ml bottle,
• and a signed certificate.

The value gets better if you consider that this is a souvenir you can actually use. You are not paying for a one-time photo moment. You are walking out with a scent that can replace your usual fragrance, at least sometimes.

There are two ways the price can feel less worth it. First, if you were hoping for lots more sampling beyond a limited set of vials, you might feel constrained. One person described it as around 20 dropper vials at their table. Second, if you expected a longer, deeper history lecture, you may wish the educational time had been longer.

My take: this is a strong value for the kind of souvenir it becomes. If you are chasing a thick classroom experience, you might want a different option. If you want a guided, hands-on Florence activity that ends in a bottle you made, this price usually lands in the reasonable zone.

Language, Timing, and the Small-Group Advantage

The tour is offered in English, and the experience is capped at 15 travelers. That small group size is a quiet win. It keeps the blending process personal, and it reduces the time you spend waiting for someone to get to your table.

One timing tip I would treat seriously: the class may start around the time they ask you to be there, which can be about 10 minutes before the listed class start time. So do not plan to arrive exactly on time. If you can, show up early, take a breath, and let your nose reset before tasting begins.

Instruction quality varies by group and language support. A few people noted that English explanation can feel brief compared with what Italian speakers received. If you strongly want step-by-step explanations in English, consider booking for a time when your group seems smaller and more conversational, if that is an option.

Who This Is Best For (and Who Might Prefer Another Plan)

This workshop is a great fit for:

• couples who want a shared, creative activity,
• solo travelers who like making things and leaving with a personal story,
• families with older kids who enjoy scents, not just looking at things.

A lot of people loved it as a mother-daughter activity, and adults also described it as fun even when no one in the group had made perfume before. If you are curious about fragrance but do not want to start from scratch at a store, this is a friendly entry point.

It is also a strong option if you want a break from art museums. Two hours in a scent workshop is a different kind of Florence memory, and it gives your brain a reset after lots of walking.

Who should think twice? If you are expecting huge variety of essential oils to sample freely, you may feel the selection is limited. If you want a long, formal class with lots of theory and deep history, you might find the session more practical than academic. And if you are sensitive to strong smells, you may want to plan ahead so you can participate comfortably.

Tips to Get Better Results From Your Scent Choices

You do not need special expertise to enjoy this class. You do need preferences. Before you go in, take a moment to decide what you actually like, not just what sounds good in theory.

Here is what helps most during blending:

• Pay attention to how smells change while you sample, not only at the first sniff.
• Think in terms of layers, since base, heart, and top oils are part of how your perfume is built.
• If you know you like floral, citrus, or herbal notes, focus your picking in that direction rather than scattering choices.

If you are the type who wears heavy fragrance, consider toning it down before you arrive. Your nose will read the room faster that way.

And once you leave, give yourself time to judge the scent. Many people say the scent needs a little time for the blend to settle, and that is normal for handmade perfume.

Should You Book This Perfume Masterclass in Florence?

Book it if you want a hands-on Florence experience with a clear payoff: you get a signed, take-home 30ml bottle created through your own selections. The small group format and the supportive staff approach make it easy to enjoy even if you are new to perfume.

Skip it if you want a long lecture, or if you assume you will sample a huge spread of essential oils. If you come in expecting a one-hour perfume tasting extravaganza, you may feel it is too structured and too limited.

If you fall into the first group, this is a memorable way to bring Florence home, one spray at a time.

FAQ

Where does the class meet in Florence?

The meeting point is Via Ghibellina, 190, 50122 Firenze FI, Italy.

How long is the perfume-making class?

The duration is about 2 hours.

What is included in the workshop price?

Included are the store and artisanal laboratory visit, a history introduction, creation of your personal fragrance, a take-home 30ml bottle, a coffee break (coffee, tea, or water), and a certificate.

Do I get hotel pickup or transportation?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off, plus transportation to and from attractions, are not included.

Is the class in English?

Yes, it is offered in English.

How many people are in the group?

The activity has a maximum of 15 travelers.

What are the requirements for participants over 12?

All participants over 12 must present proof of full vaccination, proof of first vaccination given at least 15 days ago, proof of Covid-19 infection in the past 6 months, or a negative test taken no more than 48 hours before the activity starts.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. If you cancel less than 24 hours before the start time, the amount paid is not refunded.