Workshops



Perfume workshops in class

The course takes place in three stages and lasts an hour and a half.

First Stage: The Distillation Process

Distillation of an aromatic plant using a copper still. A child is given the opportunity to construct the still, which consists of several pieces. The children then help in the demonstration of the distillation of lavender flowers, observing the transformation of the flower into an essential oil. The arrival of the first drops of oil is a magical moment for the children.

Second Stage: Scent recognition game

Numbered bottles containing scents familiar to children are matched to their corresponding image. The difficulty comes when the children must recognise new scents without the aid of the pictures. A fun game, played in groups, which requires their full attention, concentration and capabilities in memorisation.

Third Stage: Perfume creation

The much anticipated moment when participants are given the opportunity to work with pipettes and bottles of scent, taking on the role of the apprentice perfumer. Each child is given a wooden box known as a ‘perfume organ’, containing 24 essences, allowing them to create their very own perfume to take away. Detail, imagination and sensitivity are demanded of the children, who delight in creating an original perfume.



Workshop to create your own perfume

Enjoy a creative perfume workshop and use the most beautiful essential oils to make your own perfume.

(View pictures about this workshop.)

This workshop is ideal for events, exhibition fairs, seminars, flower shows and festivals etc…. during which ‘perfume organs’ are made available to the apprentice perfumers.


The organ is a precious wooden box containing 24 primary scents, divided into families:

  • The citrus family: lemon, orange, mandarin, bergamot.
  • The floral family: hyacinth, rose, jasmine, lily of the valley.
  • The fruit family: wild strawberry, peach, vanilla, osmanthus.
  • The herb and spice family: lavender, basil, coriander, nutmeg.
  • The woody family: cedar wood, sandalwood, patchouli, violet.
  • The oriental family: benzoin, musk, amber, oakmoss.


The perfume apprentice can therefore create a perfume by combining, at their leisure, the different scents. There are countless combinations and numerous affinities. But beware children... Wild strawberry doesn't go with everything!!



Workshop to create your own incense sticks

Discover the traditional way of making incense sticks.

(View pictures about this workshop.)

This workshop is the opportunity to familiarise yourself with the natural raw materials used in the fabrication of incense sticks : myrrh and frankincense gum, drops of benzoin, camphor, clove oil, cinnamon bark, croton casarilla, sandalwood, juniper, patchouli leaves etc…
After having chosen the ingredients you want to include in your incense sticks, you grind them with a pestle and mortar before mixing them into a paste which you then roll onto a bamboo stick. The incense stick is then ready to infuse the whole house with its perfume.



Discover the raw materials in perfume making

Flower, root, bark, resin, lichen… All these natural elements can, through the process of transformation, make up a perfume. Nerolia offers 15 different sessions on the theme of the main raw and natural materials of the perfume industry.
The programme of each session includes:

  • Film on the harvest and the method of extraction
  • Olfactory examination of the essence or absolute
  • Olfactory description
  • Exercise in creating a perfume, of which the essence studied forms the base component
Each session concludes with the creation of a personalised fragrance.

From flower to perfume

Introduction to the art of perfume making. Presentation of the distillation process of an aromatic plant using a still, followed by an exploration of the raw materials used in the town of Grasse, in the south of France. The session finishes with the creation of your very own personalised perfume with the help of a perfume organ.

A vanilla-based perfume

After watching a film on the harvest and treatment of vanilla beans in La Réunion, an exploration of the absolute form of vanilla used in the composition of perfume. Moving on to a study of famous vanilla-based perfumes. The session concludes with the creation of a personalised scent, based on vanilla.

A spiced perfume

Discovery of the spices used in the creation of perfume: essential oils of clove, nutmeg, cardamom, coriander…Then a study of several famous perfumes based on these spices. The session ends with the creation of a perfume combining spicy notes with floral, fruity and woody notes.

A vetivert-based perfume

Journey to the heart of the Indian ocean to trace these famous roots. A film on their harvest and distillation. Then a study of several famous perfumes for which vetivert makes up an important element. The session concludes with the creation of a perfume based on the original notes of vetivert essence.

A frankincense-based perfume

Journey to the country of Oman, in a film depicting the famous frankincense tree, the ‘boswelia sacra’, from which is extracted the famous resin, which is then burnt. Discovery of this mythical component in the fabrication of perfumes which are burnt, as well as other resins and powders used to make incense sticks. Then practical work, making incense sticks.

Perfumer’s Iris

It is the pallida variety, originating in Tuscany, which provides the most precious raw material in the perfumer maker’s palette. After a film showing the harvesting of the pallida iris, a discovery of iris butter and an olfactory study of certain famous perfumes typically composed of iris. The session ends with the creation of a perfume which combines iris with woody, floral and grassy scents.

A jasmine- based perfume

Film of the harvest and extraction of jasmine in Grasse. Discovery of Grasse’s utmost treasure, reserved only for certain prestigious perfume houses. Then an olfactory study of some famous perfumes of which Jasmine constitutes the main component. The session concludes with the creation of a perfume, which marries the scent of jasmine with sandalwood, vetivert, rose…

History of Amber

After the showing of a film on the sperm whale and the amber trade, a discovery of amber used in perfume. Then an olfactory study of famous amber perfumes. The session ends with the creation of an amber perfume based on the scents of bergamot, rose, vetivert, patchouli

A lavender- based perfume

Journey to the heart of Provence, discovering the cultivation of lavender and lavandin. Film on its harvest and distillation. Olfactory examination of its essences then a study of famous perfumes which count lavender as an essential element. The session finishes with the creation of a perfume blending lavender with other essences.

Woody perfume

Discovery of several trees from which essences, resins and balms are extracted, useful in the creation of perfumes: rosewood, cedar, juniper, gaiac, styrax. Film on the exploitation of sandalwood in India, then a study of famous woody scents. The session ends with the creation of a perfume which blends woody, floral and balsamic notes among others.

A ylang ylang- based perfume

Journey to the heart of the Indian ocean in search of the ylang-ylang flower. Film on the harvest and the transformation of the flower into essence. Then a study of a perfume for which ylang-ylang is an important component. The session finishes with the creation of a perfume marrying the essence of ylang ylang with other essences.

Citrus Perfume

Discovery of citrus fruits used in the creation of perfumes: orange, mandarin, bergamot, lemon and lime essential oils. Film on the bergamot harvest in Calabria. Then a study of the creation of a traditional Eau de Cologne, such as Jean Marie Farina. The session concludes with the creation of an Eau de Cologne style perfume.

From lichen to ‘chypre’ perfume

Commonly referred to as oakmoss, tree moss or cedar moss by perfumers, this vegetation belongs to the vast family of lichens and produces, after extraction, a much revered perfume in the eyes of the perfume maker. Film on the pine lichen crop in Auvergne, central France, then an olfactory study of some famous perfumes based on oakmoss, from the chypre family. The session ends with the creation of a perfume blending oakmoss with woody, powdery and fruity notes among others.

A rose perfume

After the showing of a film on rose cultivation and extraction in Morocco and Turkey, discovery of the essence and absolute used in perfume. Then a study of the most prominent perfumes dominated by rose. The session finishes with the creation of a perfume, marrying rose extracts with woody, fruity and jasmine notes.

Perfumes of rainforest origin

In the quest for new sources of inspiration, perfume makers are exploring the tree-tops of the equatorial rainforests in the hope of discovering unknown flowers to use in new and unusual perfumes. Showing of a film on an expedition of this kind in Guyana, presenting the technique of Head-space (a procedure which enables you to capture the odour of a living flower), then an exercise in re-producing the scent of the lilac flower.

Back to top