Perfume Masterclass in Florence: Make your Own Personal Fragrance

The most unusual part of this Florence experience is the setting: you make perfume inside Antica Erboristeria San Simone, an old apothecary and workshop filled with glass bottles, ampules, dried herbs, and fragrance ingredients. It gives a simple scent-making activity a real sense of place.

I like two things here. First, you leave with a 30ml bottle of your own blend, not just a souvenir bought from a shelf. Second, the session explains the basic roles of top, heart, and base notes, giving you a useful way to understand perfume beyond simply deciding if you like a smell.

The main thing to consider is the word masterclass. This is a friendly, hands-on introduction, not a full perfumery course. The available scents are limited, and the staff does much of the final measuring and mixing, so you should book it for the experience and personal keepsake rather than advanced technical training.

Key points to know before booking

• You work with a selected kit of essences: The activity uses roughly 20 to 30 scents, depending on the session, rather than an open-ended perfume library.
• The 1700s apothecary is part of the experience: Antica Erboristeria San Simone has old-world glassware, ampules, herbs, and an artisanal laboratory.
• Your bottle is ready to take home: The package includes 30ml of your personal fragrance and a signed certificate.
• A recipe may help you reorder: The blend can be recorded, allowing you to ask about making it again later.
• The class lasts about two hours: That includes the introduction, scent selection, mixing, a coffee or tea break, and bottling.
• Small-group size is limited to 15 people: That is manageable, though a full session can feel more like a shared workshop than private instruction.

Entering Florence’s old apothecary

Your meeting point is Via Ghibellina 190, in central Florence. The class begins and ends there, so you do not need to arrange transportation between stops. You should arrive early, since one participant found the class already underway three minutes after the stated time, with the requested arrival time set about 10 minutes before the session.

Inside, the shop and laboratory do much of the storytelling. The atmosphere comes from the setting itself: antique-looking bottles, unusual glassware, ampules, dried plant material, and rows of essences. You are not being led through several city sights, but the room gives you a close look at a working tradition connected with Florentine apothecaries.

The introduction links perfume to Florence’s Renaissance-era world of apothecaries and alchemists. That historical part can be brief in English, and the amount of explanation may vary with the instructor and group. If the history matters greatly to you, ask questions early rather than waiting for a long formal lecture.

The staff member Elena has been singled out for being warm and helpful, and the hosts generally guide the group with an easy manner. The person leading your session may be different, but you can expect an instructor to explain the scent families and help you make choices.

How the perfume-making session works

The central task is simple. You smell a selection of essences, decide which ones appeal to you, and tell the instructor what kind of blend you want. The staff then advises on the number of drops and combines the chosen ingredients into a finished perfume.

This is not a laboratory exercise in which you calculate every formula from scratch. You select the components, but the final proportions are often determined by the staff. That approach keeps the class moving and avoids turning a two-hour outing into a chemistry lesson, but it also limits how much technical control you have.

The available selection is the most important practical detail. Several descriptions place it at about 20 to 30 scents, with the exact range depending on the session. You may sample floral, herbal, woody, citrus, and other fragrance styles, then narrow your choices to a combination that feels right.

That selection can be enough for a pleasant personal blend, but it may not satisfy you if you want dozens of samples or a truly open-ended formula. One participant expected access to the larger collection suggested by promotional photographs and found the working selection more restricted. Go in expecting a guided choice from a prepared kit.

The class does introduce the basic structure of fragrance. Top notes are the first scents you notice, heart notes shape the middle of the fragrance, and base notes last longer and give the blend weight. This is one of the most useful parts of the activity because it explains why a perfume can smell one way at first and change later.

Your new scent may need time to settle. Several descriptions note that the fragrance can smell different after the ingredients have blended for about a month. Do not judge the final result only by the first spray or sniff at the workshop.

Choosing a scent that you will actually wear

Scent selection is fun, but it can also become confusing. After smelling several vials, your nose may struggle to tell one floral note from another. Take your time, return to your favorites, and do not choose every ingredient simply because it smells pleasant on its own.

A useful approach is to choose one general direction first. You might prefer a floral scent, something fresh and citrusy, a green or herbal style, or a warmer blend with woody notes. Then select supporting scents instead of adding every option you enjoy.

The instructor’s advice matters here. You have plenty of time to make your choices, and staff can help decide how much of each ingredient to use. The result is not just a random mixture of oils. It is a blend shaped by your preferences and the proportions suggested by the person leading the session.

The experience is suitable for all genders. It also works well for a parent and child or a group of friends because each person makes a different combination while sharing the same table. One parent brought a 10-year-old son who stayed engaged, while the stated participation information says most people over age 12 can take part. For younger children, confirm the age policy before booking.

If you want a particular ingredient that is not part of the standard kit, ask about it. Gardenia and other requested scents have been available for an extra charge of about 10 euros. That option is useful, but it means your final price can rise above the advertised $84.69 per person.

What you take home

The included bottle contains 30ml of your custom fragrance. That is a practical size for a suitcase and a meaningful souvenir without taking up much room. You also receive a certificate signed by the master perfumer, which adds a nice touch for a birthday outing or a mother-daughter day.

A particularly useful detail is the recipe. If your blend works well for you, the formula can make it easier to ask about ordering the same perfume again later. Ask the staff how the recipe is retained and how reorders work before you leave, since the ability to recreate the scent is one of the experience’s strongest long-term benefits.

The bottle is more personal than a standard perfume purchase because you helped choose the ingredients. Still, the final scent is not guaranteed to suit everyone. A few people have disliked the finished fragrance, which is a reminder that perfume is highly individual and that the first impression can change as the blend settles.

You also receive a break with complimentary coffee, tea, or water. It is a small inclusion, but useful during a scent-heavy session when you need to pause and reset your nose.

How much value do you get for $84.69?

At $84.69 per person, this is not the cheapest way to obtain perfume in Florence. You could buy a bottle from a shop much faster, and a large retailer would offer more fragrances to test.

The value here comes from three things: the historic setting, the guided explanation, and the custom bottle. You are paying for about two hours of activity rather than only for 30ml of liquid. If you enjoy fragrance, like making things, or want a souvenir tied to your own choices, the price is easier to justify.

The value is weaker if your main goal is perfume education. The history of Florentine perfumery may be shorter than expected, especially in English, and the class does not appear to teach advanced formulation, alcohol ratios, aging methods, or detailed ingredient chemistry. The final mixing is also handled largely by staff.

For a special occasion, the price can make sense. It is a distinctive birthday gift and works well for two people who want an activity they can share. For a large family group, the cost adds up quickly, and a full group of 15 may mean more waiting while each person’s perfume is prepared.

Group size, language, and timing

The maximum group size is 15 people. That is small enough to keep the activity social and manageable, but it is not a private lesson. You may sit at a shared table, smell the same selection as other participants, and wait while staff move from person to person.

The class is offered in English. The quality and length of English instruction can vary, and one account found the English explanation shorter than the Italian one. If you need detailed instruction, tell the host at the start and ask for clarification as you choose your notes.

The total duration is approximately two hours. That gives you time for the introduction, sampling, discussion, blending, a drink break, and bottling. It is long enough to feel like a proper activity but short enough to fit around a morning museum visit or an afternoon in central Florence.

The meeting point is near public transportation, though transport to and from the activity is not included. Hotel pickup and drop-off are also not included. Plan to reach Via Ghibellina 190 on your own and allow extra time for finding the entrance.

Mobile tickets are accepted, and confirmation is provided when you book. Service animals are allowed. The activity is described as suitable for most participants, but the supplied information does not give a detailed mobility assessment, so contact the operator if you have specific access needs.

At the time covered by the booking information, participants over 12 had to show one of several Covid-related documents, including vaccination proof, proof of a recent infection, or a negative test taken within 48 hours. Requirements can change, so check the current conditions before your appointment.

The best reasons to choose this activity

I would point perfume lovers toward this class first. You get to compare notes, learn the basic perfume structure, and create something tied to your own taste. The old shop adds atmosphere that a modern fragrance counter cannot provide.

It is also a good pick for a mother-daughter outing, a birthday gift, or a small group of friends. The process gives everyone something to discuss, and each person leaves with a different bottle. A child old enough to follow the scent-selection process may find it engaging, though the age rule should be checked before booking.

You should also choose it if you want a Florence souvenir that is useful rather than decorative. The bottle, certificate, and possible recipe for reordering give the experience a longer life after your trip.

When I would skip it

I would skip this class if you expect to study professional perfume formulation. The session offers an introduction and guided blending, not a technical course led by a perfumer who lets you build every part of the formula independently.

I would also think twice if you are very particular about fragrance choices. The prepared selection may feel narrow, and special ingredients can cost extra. A perfume shop may give you more brands and a larger range for less money.

Finally, do not book it mainly for an extended lecture about Florence’s perfume history. That subject is present, but the amount of historical detail may be limited, and the English explanation may be shorter than expected. The hands-on scent work is the main event.

Should you book the Florence perfume masterclass?

Book it if you want a social, creative two-hour activity in an atmospheric Florentine apothecary, and if the idea of taking home your own 30ml scent appeals to you. The warm guidance, simple introduction to top, heart, and base notes, and signed certificate make it a memorable break from museums and churches.

Skip it if you want a large fragrance library, full control over every formula, or serious perfumery training. At $84.69, the experience earns its price through the setting and personal souvenir, not through the amount of perfume or the depth of instruction.

My practical advice is to arrive early, ask about the history and the recipe, test your favorite notes more than once, and confirm the price of any special ingredient before adding it. With those expectations, this is a distinctive Florence activity rather than an expensive trip to a perfume counter.

FAQ

Where does the perfume masterclass begin?

The activity begins at Via Ghibellina 190, 50122 Florence, Italy, at Antica Erboristeria San Simone.

Where does the experience end?

It ends back at the same meeting point on Via Ghibellina.

How long does the class last?

The activity lasts approximately two hours.

What is included in the price?

You receive the apothecary and laboratory visit, an introduction to Florentine perfumery, guided fragrance creation, a 30ml bottle of your perfume, a complimentary coffee, tea, or water break, and a signed certificate.

Is transportation included?

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

Is the activity offered in English?

Yes. The class is offered in English.

How many people can join the class?

The maximum group size is 15 participants.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You can cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start are not accepted for a refund.

Can I request a fragrance ingredient not in the standard selection?

Some additional scents may be available for an extra charge. Gardenia, for example, has been offered for about 10 euros more. Confirm availability and price during the class.

Is the class suitable for children?

Most participants can take part, and one 10-year-old was reported to have stayed engaged during the activity. The additional information specifically refers to participants over 12 for the stated health-document requirements, so confirm the current age policy before booking for a child.