Perfumery Foundations 10 Week Course Starting 4th February 2026

Foundations of Perfumery is a 10 week program with the goal of giving you a good foundation in perfumery, raw material study, olfaction theory and perfumery practice.

This years Foundations course will run on Wednesdays 6-8:45 pm at the Atelier in Stanmore, starting on 4th February 2025

Each session is 2.45 hrs long so we have some time for extra questions and discussion at the end. We will be studying in the new training space that I've designed upstairs, and will have a lab session or two for you to explore your materials and to experiment.

There will be a perfumery raw materials kit you will build session by session. This will be an additional $220.

The materials will be available on a session by session basis as we start on fragrance families. I don't provide these in advance as I would like you to have the experience of smelling these 'blind' as we study them. I will have each set for you to take home at the end of each session.

All of the rest of the materials will be provided for you.

The programs are designed around classical perfumery training, with some extra depth talking about practical projects in the lab and customization based on group interests.

We will study;
Perfumery history with an overview of the industry and profession.
Olfaction, training framework and skills.
How to think like a perfumer.
Perfumery materials (naturals and synthetics), how they are produced, and how different methods of production affect the olfactive profile.

To learn materials, we will study perfume material families and how these help define/classify fragrance families. We will also look at how the different facets of raw materials can influence how other materials behave in an accord.
Families:
· Citrus family,
· Aromatic family,
· Green family and fruit family
· Woody family,
· Floral families,
· Spice family.
· Resins and balsams/amber family.
· Musks and animalics

the sessions are capped to a maximum of 6 people so that everyone has one on one time, as a group, you'll have a closer dynamic.

This is course can be excellent for people interested in perfumery, selling fragrances, perfume marketing and communication.
This is also the foundation course for professional development that is followed by the Intermediate and Advanced courses.

Some experience to share:
I started my first job selling perfumes in department stores in the mid 90's while studying fashion design. Little did I know that one day I would be a perfumer, creating fragrances and cosmetics that would be sold in the same places!

My love of perfume and skincare took me to working with natural products, from product training, to manufacturing products to studying Naturopathy.

Alongside self directed study, I've also studied with the Grasse Institute of Perfumery and The Institute for Art and Olfaction.
I've been a professional member of Societé Française des Parfumeurs since 2010

I've spent 20 years teaching essential oil chemistry, botany, pharmacy, pharmacognosy and cosmetic chemistry.
From professional programs, high school STEM classes to university level; I really love sharing knowledge about my profession and to uncover and nurture talent, curiosity and support creativity.
I've been teaching workshops on olfaction, creativity and perfumery since 2013.

My secret superpower is to make the sciences approachable, engaging and fun while encouraging students to excel. As a teacher, mentor and trainer I live for 'light bulb' moments!

I started by fragrance brand Cult of Scent in late 2008 as I found myself very much drawn to becoming a perfumer. I had been working heavily in the sciences and wanted a creative outlet. Having created scents for spa products, and consulted on cosmetic product design, a began to truly see perfume as a medium of communication to make art with, the same way a painter uses colour.

I view perfume as the ultimate intersection between Art and Science, you can use molecules as tools to bring to life wildly creative ideas. It is technically challenging while being creatively fulfilling. It is also beautiful, poetic, emotional and glamorous, 2025 year marks over 20 years of following the creative call of this profession.

I look forward to working together and nurturing your creativity and curiosity.

Please reach out for more information via the contacts form.