Perfume Masterclass in Florence: Make your Own Personal Fragrance

Florence’s perfume tradition comes alive in a 1700s apothecary filled with glass bottles, dried herbs, ampules, and scented oils. You’ll work with a master perfumer to choose notes, combine them, and leave with a 30ml bottle of your own fragrance. It’s part history lesson, part hands-on souvenir.

I like the intimate setting and the fact that your scent is recorded so you can order more later. I also like the easy pace, with time to test fragrances and a coffee or tea break included. The main catch is that this is a guided blending session, not a full laboratory course. You choose from a limited selection of essences, and the staff does the final mixing.

• A historic setting: Antica Erboristeria San Simone brings the atmosphere of an old Florentine apothecary into the experience.
• Your own 30ml bottle: You leave with a personal fragrance and a signed certificate.
• A simple introduction to perfume: Learn about top, heart, and base notes before selecting scents.
• A small-group format: The maximum group size is 15 people, though some sessions may feel full.
• A useful souvenir: Your fragrance recipe can help you order the same blend later.
• A two-hour creative break: The class fits neatly into a Florence sightseeing day and includes coffee, tea, or water.

Inside Florence’s 1700s apothecary

The experience takes place at Antica Erboristeria San Simone on Via Ghibellina, east of Florence’s historic center. You return to the same location at the end, so there is no complicated route or second meeting point to manage.

The shop and workshop are a big part of the appeal. You enter a place designed around old-fashioned herbal and perfume making, with unusual glassware, ampules, dried herbs, flowers, and rows of essences. I would allow a few extra minutes before the start to look around, since the store itself is part of the experience.

The setting helps explain why Florentine perfume feels different from simply browsing a department store counter. You are surrounded by the tools and visual language of an old apothecary, not seated in a modern classroom. That atmosphere gives the activity a stronger connection to Florence’s Renaissance-era interest in plants, remedies, cosmetics, and alchemy.

The start time matters. The class begins at the stated arrival time, and one participant found that the group was already underway after arriving only a few minutes late. I would aim to reach Via Ghibellina about 10 to 15 minutes early.

How the perfume lesson works

The session begins with an introduction to perfume making in Florence. You learn how different ingredients work together and how perfumes are built from top, heart, and base notes.

The explanation is useful, but its depth can vary. Some sessions include a clear account of local perfume traditions and the history of the shop. In other sessions, the historical portion is brief, especially for English speakers when Italian instruction is also being given. If the cultural background is your main reason for booking, keep your expectations modest.

The practical part is easier to follow. You smell a selection of prepared essences and decide which ones appeal to you. The available kit has been described as roughly 20 to 30 scents, depending on the session and selection. You may find floral, herbal, fresh, woody, or sweeter options, though the exact range is not guaranteed.

The staff helps you think about balance. A strong top note may give the fragrance its first impression, while heart notes shape its character and base notes help it last. You are not expected to know perfume vocabulary before arriving. The process begins at a basic level, making it suitable for someone who has never taken a fragrance class.

Choosing your personal scent

This is the most enjoyable part for many people, but it also requires realistic expectations. You select the scents you like, then the perfumer determines how many drops of each ingredient to use. The finished blend is not produced entirely by you with unlimited control. Instead, you make the creative choices while the staff handles the precise proportions and final preparation.

That arrangement has an advantage. You avoid wasting ingredients or ending up with a harsh mixture that does not work. The staff can guide you toward a more balanced result. It also keeps the class manageable for a group of up to 15 people.

The limitation is choice. This is not a giant fragrance laboratory where you sample every oil in the shop. You work from a set of dropper vials. One participant expected a much broader range of samples and felt the final product was not as individual as hoped. If you want hundreds of ingredients and detailed formula work, this will feel basic.

Special scents may sometimes be available for an additional charge. Gardenia, for example, cost one participant an extra 10 euros. A different participant asked for an unavailable scent and received it for an upcharge. Ask about any extra cost before adding an ingredient.

The final scent may also change as it settles. One participant planned to wait about a month before judging the finished fragrance. That is sensible. Perfume can smell different immediately after blending than it does after the ingredients have had time to combine.

What you take home

The main included souvenir is a 30ml bottle of your custom fragrance. That is a useful size for a trip and small enough to pack without taking over your luggage.

You also receive a signed certificate of completion. It is a simple keepsake, but it gives the activity a more finished feel than buying a bottle from a shop. The most useful extra is the recipe for your blend. Keep it safe. It may allow you to reorder the same fragrance later, which solves one common problem with custom perfume experiences: loving the scent but having no way to reproduce it.

The bottle is also more personal than a standard Florence souvenir. A leather wallet or small paperweight may remind you of the city, but a fragrance can bring back the memory every time you wear it. I think this makes the experience especially appealing for a birthday, mother-daughter outing, couples activity, or small group of friends.

It is also not limited to women. The workshop can suit anyone who enjoys scent, including men who prefer cologne-style fragrances or fresh, woody, and herbal notes.

How the two hours feel

The full experience lasts about two hours. That gives you enough time to hear the introduction, test scents, make choices, and wait for the staff to prepare the bottles.

The waiting period is worth understanding. Since one staff member may be mixing several fragrances for the group, the class can slow down after everyone has selected their ingredients. Most people use that time to talk, look around the shop, or enjoy the included coffee, tea, or water.

In a smaller session, this pause can feel relaxed and social. In a full group of 15, it may feel less personal. One particularly negative experience described a long wait while the staff prepared each bottle. That criticism is fair to consider, especially if you prefer constant instruction and activity.

I would not book this between two tightly scheduled museum reservations. Give yourself room before and after the class. The activity itself is only about two hours, but arriving early, walking to Via Ghibellina, and allowing for the final handoff makes a three-hour window more comfortable.

The workshop has air conditioning, which is welcome during Florence’s hotter months. It is also near public transportation, and most people can participate. Service animals are allowed.

Is the $84.69 price fair?

At $84.69 per person, this is not a bargain if you judge it only by the cost of a 30ml bottle. You can buy perfume for less elsewhere. The price pays for the setting, the staff’s guidance, the historical introduction, the hands-on activity, the bottle, the certificate, and the time set aside for your group.

I think the value depends on your purpose. If you simply need a fragrance, skip the class and shop. If you want a creative Florence activity with a personal souvenir, the price is easier to justify.

The custom recipe improves the value. You are not left with a one-off bottle that cannot be replaced. You can potentially order the same scent again, although the cost of future orders is not given here.

The experience has a rating of 4.7 from 253 ratings, and 93 percent of customers recommend it. Those numbers point to a strong overall result, but the lower ratings identify a clear dividing line. People who expect a relaxed introduction and enjoy the social activity tend to get more from it. People expecting advanced perfume education, a huge ingredient library, or complete control over the formula may be disappointed.

Who will enjoy this Florence activity?

I would recommend it to anyone who wants a break from churches, galleries, and crowded piazzas. Two hours in a cool workshop can reset your attention, especially in the middle of a busy sightseeing day.

It works well for:

• Couples who want a shared souvenir
• Parents and older children
• Mother-daughter trips
• Friends who enjoy comparing scents
• Solo visitors looking for an easy social activity
• Anyone interested in fragrance but new to perfume making
• Visitors who want a souvenir tied to Florence rather than a generic purchase

The minimum age is not stated, but the experience has worked well for children as young as 10 in one family outing. The listed health requirement applies to participants over 12, so check the current booking conditions carefully before you go.

I would be more cautious about booking it for someone who dislikes group activities, has a very sensitive sense of smell, or wants a serious technical course. The selection is prepared in advance, the group may include 15 people, and the staff completes the final formula.

Practical advice before you book

Book ahead if your Florence schedule is fixed. The experience is often reserved about 35 days in advance, which suggests that popular dates can fill well before the trip.

Wear something comfortable and plan to arrive early. The meeting point is Via Ghibellina, 190, 50122 Florence. Hotel pickup and transportation are not included, so you must make your own way there.

Think about the types of scents you usually like before arriving. Do you prefer floral, citrus, herbal, woody, sweet, or clean notes? You do not need to know perfume terms, but having a general direction will make the selection process easier.

Do not judge the perfume too quickly. Your first impression may change after the ingredients settle. If you want a particular ingredient that is not part of the standard kit, ask about availability and any extra charge before it is added.

The experience is offered in English, but the amount of English instruction may be brief in a bilingual session. If detailed spoken explanation is especially important to you, make that part of your booking decision.

Free cancellation is available when you cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time. Cancellations or changes made within 24 hours are not accepted for a refund.

The final decision: book it or skip it?

I would book this perfume masterclass if you want an enjoyable, unusual Florence souvenir and like the idea of creating something with your own preferences. The old apothecary, friendly staff, manageable two-hour length, and personal bottle give it more character than a standard shopping stop.

I would skip it if you expect a professional perfumer’s education or a fully original formula built from an enormous range of raw materials. The activity is closer to guided scent selection and blending than advanced perfume chemistry.

For most visitors, the best reason to book is not the bottle alone. It is the chance to slow down, smell your way through Florence’s perfume tradition, and leave with something that can be reordered and remembered long after the trip.

FAQ

Where does the perfume masterclass take place?

It takes place at Antica Erboristeria San Simone, located at Via Ghibellina, 190, 50122 Florence, Italy.

How long does the experience last?

The activity lasts approximately two hours and ends back at the meeting point.

What is included in the price?

The experience includes the visit to the store and artisanal laboratory, an introduction to Florentine perfume, fragrance creation, a 30ml bottle of your perfume, coffee, tea or water, and a signed certificate.

Is the class offered in English?

Yes. The experience is offered in English.

How many people can join the class?

The maximum group size is 15 participants.

Do I make the entire perfume by myself?

You select the fragrances you prefer, and the perfumer helps determine the number of drops for each ingredient before the final mixture is prepared.

Can I reorder the fragrance later?

The recipe for your fragrance is provided, so you can use it to order more in the future.

Are extra ingredients available?

Some scents may be available for an additional charge. Ask about the cost before adding an ingredient.

What is the cancellation policy?

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.