There is something profoundly moving about truly smelling a material for the first time. Not just recognising it as “rose” or “wood” or “citrus”, but understanding how it unfolds, how it behaves over time, how it connects to memory, to emotion, to structure. Natural perfumery begins with attention, and this one-day immersion in Glastonbury is designed to cultivate exactly that.

This course is an invitation to slow down and engage deeply with your sense of smell. Whether you are entirely new to fragrance or have long been curious about how perfumes are constructed, the day offers a thorough and carefully guided introduction to the art of natural perfumery.

Learning to Smell

Before you can create perfume, you must learn how to smell with intention.

We begin by exploring the sense of smell itself: how it functions, how scent travels and is perceived, and why it can be so difficult to describe. You will be guided through practical exercises designed to train your nose in the way professional perfumers do: by repeated, and mindful exposure to perfumery materials and by developing a vocabulary to describe what you smell.

This foundation is essential. Many people attempt to blend fragrances before they have learned to observe them. Training the nose transforms everything that follows.

Demystifying Fragrance

Perfumery often appears mysterious from the outside, but it is both structured and logical once you understand its principles. Throughout the day, you will learn about fragrance families and how perfumes are designed using top, middle, and base notes. You will learn why certain materials evaporate quickly while others linger for hours, and how this natural rhythm creates movement within a composition.

Working with Natural Materials

At the heart of the day is the opportunity to work hands-on with a large selection of natural materials. You will smell and blend with precious oils such as rose, jasmine, neroli and sandalwood, alongside a range of other woods, resins, herbs, and citrus notes.

With support and structured guidance, you will learn how to create accords and develop them into a natural perfume, a personal expression of what you have learnt that you can take home with you.

The class is particularly welcoming to beginners but is open to all levels of experience.

By the end of the day, you will have:

• A deeper understanding of how the sense of smell works

• Practical tools for training your nose and a working vocabulary for describing scents

• Clarity around fragrance families and perfume structure

• Experience creating accords from natural materials

• Your own natural perfume to take home

• Comprehensive notes and guidance should you wish to continue learning

Small group size so places are limited. Don’t miss out!