Perfume Masterclass in Florence: Make your Own Personal Fragrance

Make scent, not just photos. This Florence workshop lets you create a personal fragrance inside a historic 1700s apothecary at Antica Erboristeria San Simone. You’ll get guided instruction, bottle your own blend, and leave with a souvenir you can actually wear.

I especially liked working with a master perfumer while you choose and balance the oils. You also end up with a 30ml bottle of your custom perfume plus a signed certificate, so the whole experience feels grounded and official, not like a rushed demo.

One thing to consider: if you’re expecting a long, very detailed English lecture or tons of sample scents to test, the class can feel more practical and limited than you might hope.

Key highlights worth your time

• An actual apothecary-style workshop at Antica Erboristeria San Simone
• Master perfumer guidance while you build your fragrance
• Hands-on blending from a kit of essences
• You bottle a 30ml take-home fragrance
• Coffee or tea break plus a signed completion certificate
• Small group size (max 15) for a more personal pace

Antica Erboristeria San Simone: Florence’s 1700s apothecary atmosphere

Your session starts at Via Ghibellina, 190, in Florence, and the first win is the setting. The workshop happens in a space dating back to the 1700s, styled like an old apothecary with glassware, ampules, and rare essences on display.

This matters more than you’d think. When you’re learning to smell and compose fragrance, you need a calm, focused environment. Here, the room feels built for it, like you’ve stepped into a working lab rather than a showroom. You’ll also get an introduction to the history of perfumery in Florence, including its Renaissance roots, which gives your choices context. Even if you’re not a “perfume person,” the vibe makes the experience feel serious.

Tip: plan to arrive a little early. One useful detail I picked up is that the class can start at the be there time, which may be about 10 minutes before the listed start. Being on time keeps you from feeling flustered while everyone gets seated.

Meet the master perfumer and get a simple framework

Once you’re settled, you’ll meet the master perfumer and get a short orientation to how perfume is traditionally put together. The class is designed so you don’t need a chemistry degree. You’re learning what to look for when you smell, and how different ingredients play different roles in a blend.

You’ll also get guided help on choosing ingredients. The workshop introduces you to the basics of ingredient selection, and it links back to the idea of Florentine perfumery traditions—how scents were developed, traded, and refined as part of local craft culture. That history part isn’t meant to be a lecture marathon. It’s there to help you smell with purpose, not just pick what smells good in the moment.

And yes, it’s practical. Your goal is not to appreciate perfume from a distance. Your goal is to walk out with something you made.

Building your fragrance from the essence kit (and why the process feels fun)

Here’s where the class turns into a hands-on souvenir you’ll actually use. You create your perfume from a kit of essences and a set of bottles/dropper vials you sample at your table. You’ll smell options, pick what you want, and then work with the team to translate your preferences into a balanced formula.

The process is surprisingly straightforward:

• You smell and select the essences you like.
• You choose enough to create a coherent scent profile.
• The staff helps determine the drop amounts so your final perfume isn’t just a random mix.

I like this approach because it keeps you in control while still ensuring the final bottle smells intentional. If you’ve ever mixed scents at home and ended up with something too sharp or too flat, this guided step helps prevent that.

Small-group pacing is part of the value here. With a maximum of 15 travelers, you’re not stuck watching a demonstration while others get attention. You get time to smell, decide, and adjust.

One caution from real-world expectations: the class may not feel like you’re sampling every scent in the building. Some people found their table selection limited to a set of vials rather than an endless menu. If you’re the type who wants to test dozens of single notes before committing, this workshop might feel tighter than you expected.

The “history + lab” vibe (and what the English lesson may mean for you)

The experience is offered in English, and you’ll get an intro about the history of perfumery in Florence while you’re in the workshop. In general, I think that’s a great pairing: it gives your nose something to “read” as you work.

That said, English delivery can vary. One drawback that came up is that some instruction in English may be brief compared with what Italian speakers may receive. If you need a lot of verbal detail to feel fully satisfied, bring patience. The staff focuses heavily on getting you from smelling options to creating a usable blend.

If your goal is mainly to make a perfume you love, the practical portion will still land well. If your goal is mainly education, you may want to adjust expectations and think of this as a craft class first, lecture second.

Coffee or tea break: why you’ll appreciate the downtime

Included in the workshop is a coffee or tea break (plus water). This is more than a perk. Once you start sampling multiple scents, your nose can get tired. A short reset helps you come back with steadier perception for the final selection and balancing.

It also turns the activity into an actual afternoon break, not a nonstop activity. You’ll have a moment to chat, relax, and let the workshop rhythm settle.

If you’re planning around other sights that day, this break can make your schedule easier. You’re not running from one place to another and then trying to make sharp decisions while overheated and rushed.

Bottling your 30ml scent and leaving with proof you made it

The payoff is real: you bottle your own perfume, and you take home 30ml of your custom scent. You also receive a certificate signed by the master himself.

That certificate matters for two reasons. First, it marks the blend as something you made here, not a generic souvenir scent. Second, some people found that they also get a recipe or a way to reorder later (useful if the final result ends up being one you truly want to wear repeatedly).

When you leave, you’ll have something that’s personal in a way a scarf or postcard isn’t. It’s also a great gift format—small enough to pack, specific enough to feel thoughtful.

One practical note: oils and blends can change as they settle. It’s smart to expect that your perfume may smell a bit different after it has time to incorporate, especially compared to what you sensed during the mixing stage.

Small-group size, timing, and how the class runs

This is built for a tight group. Max 15 travelers helps keep the pace human. You can participate whether you come solo or with a friend, and it’s also the kind of creative activity that works well for couples and family groups.

The class runs about 2 hours (approx.). That duration is a sweet spot: long enough to get hands-on blending and bottle your scent, short enough that it won’t crowd out your Florence day.

As mentioned earlier, arrive with a buffer. If you’re even slightly late, you may feel rushed as the workshop starts and your table settles in.

Transport note: hotel pickup and drop-off are not included. You’ll need to make your own way to the meeting point on Via Ghibellina, which is still nice because you can combine this with other nearby stops without waiting around for a van.

Price and value: is $84.69 worth it?

At $84.69 per person, this isn’t a budget activity. The value comes from the combination of three things:

1. You take home a meaningful bottle (30ml) of custom perfume you made.
2. You get guided help from a master perfumer, so the blend isn’t purely DIY.
3. You get an experience tied to a historic workshop setting, plus a signed certificate and a coffee/tea break.

If you’re comparing it to a perfume shop visit where you smell a few options and buy something off the shelf, the price is easier to justify. You’re paying for the guided creation process and the take-home result.

If you’re comparing it to a broader “tasting menu” style class with many sample notes and lots of free-form experimenting, the limited selection can make the cost feel steep. In that case, read your own expectations carefully: this is more structured and table-based than a free scent lab.

My advice: treat it like a craft session. If you want a souvenir that feels personal and wearable, the price starts to make sense.

Who this workshop suits best (and who might want to skip)

This class is a strong fit if you:

• Want a creative, hands-on activity that produces a wearable result
• Like Florence culture beyond museums
• Enjoy guided learning through doing (smell, choose, balance)
• Want a small-group experience that feels personal

It may be a weaker fit if you:

• Expect to sample a huge spread of scents beyond what’s available at your table
• Need a long, detailed lecture in English to feel fully satisfied
• Want a totally independent, DIY-only blending experience

In other words, it works best for people who are excited by the final bottle and the craft process, not people who came for a deep theoretical workshop.

Should you book this Florence perfume masterclass?

I think you should book it if you want a Florence experience with a real payoff. The setting in a 1700s apothecary, the chance to work with a master perfumer, and leaving with your own 30ml signature scent are a winning mix.

Before you click confirm, calibrate your expectations. This is structured around a set of essences and table-based choices, and the English instruction may be brief for some guests. If that sounds like your style, you’ll likely love it for exactly what it is: a focused craft class with a take-home bottle.

If you want to make scent your souvenir and not just your memory, this is a very good pick.

FAQ

How long does the perfume masterclass last?

The class lasts about 2 hours (approx.).

Where does the experience start?

It starts at Via Ghibellina, 190, 50122 Firenze FI, Italy, and ends back at the same meeting point.

What’s the price per person?

The price is $84.69 per person.

Is the experience offered in English?

Yes. English is listed as the offered language.

What do I take home at the end?

You bottle a 30ml amount of your personalized perfume and receive a certificate of completion signed by the master.

What’s included in the workshop?

You get a welcome and visit to the Antica Spezieria Erboristeria San Simone store and artisanal laboratory, an introduction to the history of perfumery in Florence, the creation of your personal fragrance from a kit of essences, coffee or tea, and the certificate.

Is coffee or tea included?

Yes. Complimentary coffee, tea, or water is included.

Do I get hotel pickup or drop-off?

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

How big is the group?

The maximum group size is 15 travelers.

Do I need proof related to COVID-19 if I’m over 12?

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

Is cancellation free?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. Cancellation within 24 hours of the start time is not refundable.