Perfume Making Masterclass in a Historic Apothecary Florence

A historic apothecary near the Bargello

The masterclass is held inside a historic herbal apothecary in the centre of Florence, among dark wooden shelves, glass jars of dried herbs and rows of small bottles. The shop stands a short walk from the Bargello museum, Piazza della Signoria and the Basilica of Santa Croce, so the workshop fits easily into a day of sightseeing.

Florence has a long tradition of apothecaries, where monks and pharmacists prepared remedies, herbal waters and scented oils. Sitting in such a setting gives the class a special atmosphere: you are learning a craft in the kind of place where it has been practised for generations, not in a modern classroom. The quiet room behind the shop counter becomes your workshop for the session.

Florence and the art of perfume

In Renaissance Florence, perfumers and alchemists experimented with distillation, essences and resins, and their skills travelled across Europe. A Florentine perfumer who followed a Medici princess to the French court in the 16th century is often credited with helping to spread the fashion for perfume in France, which later became the world capital of fragrance.

Your master perfumer tells this story at the start of the workshop and explains how scents were made and worn in the past. It is a short, lively introduction that helps you understand the essences in front of you before you begin creating. Many scents used in those times, such as orris from the Tuscan iris, the symbol of Florence, citrus peel and aromatic herbs, are still part of a perfumer's palette today.

The masterclass: from essences to your own blend

The heart of the experience is the hands-on blending. Using a kit of essences, from fresh citrus and herbal notes to floral hearts and warm woody bases, you learn how a perfume is built in layers: the top notes you smell first, the heart that follows and the base that lasts on the skin.

The perfumer helps you smell each essence on paper strips, choose your favourites and measure them drop by drop until the balance feels right. Because the group is small, there is time for personal advice, and a coffee break with coffee, tea or water gives your nose a rest before you finalise your blend. The class lasts about 90 minutes.

Your perfume, formula and certificate

At the end you bottle your creation in a 30 ml flask to take away, together with its written formula, so it can be recreated later, and a certificate of the skills you have learned. It makes a personal souvenir of Florence and a thoughtful gift.

The workshop is a good choice for a rainy day, a break between museums or a creative activity for couples and families with children from four years old. Sessions start at 10:30, 12:20 and 15:30, and luggage or large bags are not allowed inside the small laboratory, so leave them at your hotel. The 30 ml bottle is small enough for hand luggage, so your souvenir travels easily on your flight.