One sniff, and you start building your own perfume. At Antica Spezieria Erboristeria San Simone, I love the hands-on blending where you craft a scent that feels personal, and I love the history lesson led by hosts like Elena. The only drawback is that choosing the notes takes focus, and the class keeps a steady pace since it all fits into 1.5 hours.

This is a small-group workshop, limited to 10 participants, in the heart of Florence. You sniff a range of delicate and powerful aromas, blend your own fragrance, and leave with a 30ml bottle plus your formula and a certificate. Even if perfume feels intimidating, the room is built for questions and trial and error.

Key Things I’d Prioritize Before You Go

• Small group (up to 10) means more time with your instructor, not just a quick demo
• 30ml takeaway bottle plus formula and certificate, so it’s not just a novelty
• History you can smell, with Renaissance-era references and a guided approach to notes
• Personal blending from a kit of essences, letting you shape the final scent
• Coffee break included (coffee, tea, or water), so it feels relaxed, not rushed
• Hosts like Elena, and other instructors such as Debra and Alina, make the experience feel warm and attentive

Entering Antica Spezieria Erboristeria San Simone, Florence’s Perfume Workshop

The experience starts at Antica Spezieria Erboristeria San Simone, right in the city center. That matters more than it sounds. Florence is easy to rush through, but here you slow down on purpose, step into an artisanal setting, and let the air do half the work.

The room is essentially a working perfumery, which changes the vibe. Instead of museum quiet, you get purposeful noise: sniffing, comparing, and talking through scent choices. The staff are there to guide you, especially when it comes to selecting aromas you might not have thought you’d like. That’s a big part of the appeal for first-timers.

You’ll also appreciate the format. The class is designed for a small group of up to 10, so you are not fighting for attention. If you’re doing this with a friend or partner, you also get a chance to compare your preferences in real time, which turns the blending into something social.

One practical note: luggage or large bags are not allowed. Plan to travel light when you’re heading here.

The Mini Renaissance Lesson, René le Florentin and Catherine de Medici

Before you start mixing, you get the context. The master perfumer instructor explains the history of perfume making in Florence, with references to Renaissance-era master perfumers like René le Florentin and his connection to Catherine de Medici.

Why does this matter for you, beyond trivia? Because it helps you understand the logic behind scent building. Perfume is not random. It uses structure. Once you hear how perfumers think about different types of notes, the “what should I choose?” part becomes easier. Instead of only going by gut feeling, you can start building intentionally, like you’re composing rather than guessing.

You also get a real sense that perfumery is part art, part technique. That balance comes up again when you’re guided through the blending process and when you receive your final formula. You are not just leaving with something that smells good. You’re leaving with a method.

The best part is that the history feels attached to what you’re doing. You’re not reading a plaque while the class waits. You’re smelling aromas while the instructor explains how they fit together.

Your Scent-Choosing Moment, Sniffing and Building from a Kit

Now comes the fun part: choosing aromas. You’ll use an array of delicate and powerful scents from a kit of essences, and your instructor guides you through combining them into a fragrance that matches your taste.

This is where the class earns its money for me. A perfume workshop that doesn’t let you properly decide would be a waste. Here, you get to sample and compare, then choose what goes into your own blend. The small group size helps because you can talk through the choices while you smell.

From the experience details and feedback, a common surprise is that picking the final combination is harder than people expect. That’s normal. You may fall in love with one aroma in the bottle, then realize it changes when mixed. The good news is the instructors steer you through that uncertainty, so you’re not left guessing.

Also, the experience is described as relaxed and not rushed. That shows in the way people talk about having time to smell, compare, and make decisions. You should expect your session to include plenty of sniffing time, not just a quick pick and go.

If you care about communication, note that instructors speak Italian and English. Some people find the Italian accent easier or harder depending on the day, so if you prefer English, it’s smart to ask early and stick with that language through the session.

Blending Your Formula, How the Class Turns Notes into Perfume

After choosing your aromas, you move into the actual creation phase. You’ll be guided through combining the scents as part of a perfume-making process. This is where your choices start turning into structure: the scent can shift depending on how the ingredients are balanced.

One detail worth knowing from the experience: there is an option for a chemist to put the ingredients together after you determine your combination. In other words, you can still do the choosing, but let the specialist handle the exact mixing step if you want extra precision. If you want to feel fully involved, you can also do it yourself, but not everyone wants that risk.

Either way, the goal is the same, to end with a fragrance that truly feels like yours, not a generic blend. The experience is set up so you’re crafting a personalized fragrance and then receiving the outcome as a takeaway bottle.

As the perfume is prepared, you stay in the workshop environment. Some people enjoy continuing to explore other notes on the shelves while waiting. That can turn the class into a deeper sensory experience, especially if you like browsing scents and discovering new favorites.

Coffee Break Included, A Small Pause That Helps You Decide

You’re offered a coffee break during the masterclass: coffee, tea, or water. It sounds small, but it helps the pacing. When you’ve been sniffing for a while, a quick break makes it easier to keep your choices clear.

It also adds comfort if your group includes someone who is not a hardcore perfume fan. You’re not trapped in nonstop blending. You get a short reset, and then you go back to the aromas with fresh attention.

If you’re sensitive to strong smells, that pause can matter. And if you’re doing this as a family outing or with teens, it keeps the tone friendly and not overly technical.

Taking Home 30ml, Your Certificate, and the Formula

This is one of the most practical parts of the experience. At the end, you collect a 30ml bottle of your personalized perfume. You also receive your formula and a certificate tied to your newly acquired skill.

This is why the workshop feels like more than an activity. A bottle you can actually use daily is a better souvenir than a postcard. And because you get the formula, you can recreate the scent later instead of hunting for something similar.

There’s also an extra convenience point from the experience details and feedback: you can order ingredients from them later by emailing, and they ship. That means if your perfume becomes one of your go-to scents, you’re not stuck guessing what you made last time.

If you’re the type who likes to gift, this takeaway is ideal too. A personalized fragrance feels thoughtful, especially when it comes with the formula and proof you made it.

Price and Value for an Experience at $82

At $82 per person for a 1.5-hour session, this lands in the “you should consider your personal use” category. You might think, is it worth it compared with buying perfume?

Here’s why it often makes sense. The final takeaway is a 30ml bottle, and at least one review suggests that the size and quality feel comparable to what you’d pay for a bottle off the shelf. On top of that, you’re getting the workshop instruction, the scent selection, and the structure of learning how blending works. You’re not just paying for the perfume. You’re paying for the process and the personalized result.

Value gets even better if you already buy fragrances. If you usually spend money on perfumes and want something that feels “you,” this is a practical way to make that happen in one afternoon.

Where it might not be worth it is if you dislike strong scents or you’re not planning to use fragrance afterward. The class is all about smell. No smell, no payoff.

Tips for a Smoother Class, From What to Bring to Note-Selection Strategy

Here’s how to set yourself up for success based on what’s worked for other groups.

First, bring a camera. Photos are allowed, and it’s nice to capture the setting, the bottles, and your final creation.

Second, leave big bags at the hotel. Luggage or large bags are not allowed, and the workshop is small, so plan to carry only what you need.

Third, give yourself mental room for the note-selection challenge. Some people are surprised by how hard it is to settle on what you actually want once you start sniffing in sequence. The instructors guide you, but it still takes a bit of patience and decision-making energy.

Finally, if your group is sensitive to street noise, you might appreciate asking the staff about keeping the instruction area comfortable. One review specifically suggested having the shop door closed during instruction, which tells me it’s at least a consideration the team can manage.

Who Should Book This Florence Perfume Masterclass

This class fits best if you like sensory activities and you want something that turns into a real, usable item.

You’ll especially enjoy it if:

• You love perfume or you’ve been curious about how scents are built
• You want a break from the usual Florence routine of museums and stone churches
• You’re traveling with a partner, since the comparisons make it fun
• You’re bringing teens or older kids who enjoy hands-on projects (several people mentioned teens enjoying the process)

It may feel less ideal if:

• You dislike strong aromas or get scent fatigue quickly
• You’re short on time and want something that is purely passive
• You want a very technical, chemistry-heavy lecture only, since the experience emphasizes guided practical blending

Should You Book It? My Practical Take

Book it if you want a Florence activity that is genuinely memorable and leaves you with something tangible. The combination of hands-on blending, a real 30ml takeaway bottle, and the formula plus certificate makes this one of those rare experiences where the “souvenir” is actually useful.

Hold back if you’re only looking for sightseeing. This is a sensory workshop, not a walking tour. And because the class involves sniffing and choosing notes, you should be comfortable spending time with strong, layered aromas.

If you do decide to book, go in open-minded. Your favorite scent in the room might not be the one you expect at the start, and that is exactly where the class gets interesting.

FAQ

Where is the perfume masterclass located?

It takes place at Antica Spezieria Erboristeria San Simone in the heart of Florence.

How long is the masterclass?

The duration is 1.5 hours.

How many people are in each group?

It is a small group limited to 10 participants.

What do I take home at the end?

You take home a 30ml bottle of your personalized perfume, plus a certificate and the perfume formula.

Are the instructors available in English and Italian?

Yes. The class is offered in Italian and English.

What is included besides making perfume?

The included items are the perfume masterclass at the artisanal laboratory, a master perfumer instructor, the 30ml bottle of personalized perfume, and a coffee break (coffee, tea, or water).

What should I bring, and what isn’t allowed?

You should bring a camera. Luggage or large bags are not allowed.

Is it wheelchair accessible?

The activity information lists wheelchair accessibility, but it also states it is not suitable for wheelchair users. Because of that contradiction, it’s best to confirm with the provider before booking.

What are the cancellation terms?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. There is also a reserve now & pay later option.