Perfumery Exploration Workshop in Groningen

About this tour

When Mia from our Global Hobo crew tried this 2.5-hour perfumery workshop in Groningen, she walked into a surprisingly hands-on crash course in how fragrances actually work. The session kicks off with the history and science behind scent, moves through smelling raw materials and learning how perfumers build accords, then lets you blend your own 5ml bottle to take home. It's the kind of thing that sits somewhere between a craft class and a masterclass—casual enough for complete novices, detailed enough that you'll actually understand what's happening in a bottle of eau de toilette.

Highlights

• Hands-on blending of your own fragrance to take home
• Smell raw perfumery materials, not just finished scents
• Learn how professional accords are constructed from basics
• Debunk common myths about fragrance marketing and composition
• Small group setting in central Groningen location
• No prior knowledge or experience required to participate
• Friendly instructors who walk through the chemistry clearly

What to expect

You'll spend the first half learning the backbone of how perfume works—a bit of history, the tools, and importantly, the building blocks. Then comes the sensory part: you'll smell strips of different raw materials, some pretty weird, and start understanding how they layer together. The instructor breaks down actual fragrance formulas so you see the structure instead of just guessing.

The second half is yours to play with. You'll create a 5ml blend using the materials on hand, and the staff will help dial it in so it's balanced. It's not complicated, but there's enough freedom to feel creative. The whole thing moves at a relaxed pace, and the workshop caters to all fitness levels—you're sitting most of the time, sniffing and mixing.

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