FRAGONARD PERFUME WORKSHOP
Fragonard is a family-run perfume institution that has been around since 1926, currently (as of 2024) operating three factories, six museums, and 24 boutiques. It is in one of these museums – the Musée du Parfum located in the 9th arrondissement of Paris – that you are invited to partake in a 90-minute perfume workshop where you bottle your own creation, as well as enjoy a 30-minute guided tour of the museum.
When you arrive, you will be given a choice to grab an empty 100ml bottle (perfect to bring on the plane) with either a gold or silver top. This bottle is what you will store your handiwork in, and is yours to take home! As you find a seat, you will see in front of you a little drawstring pouch that you can store your bottle in, a cute apron, a pencil, and a pamphlet.
The perfumery professional leading the class will explain the history of perfumery and will invite you to smell the different essences on the table in front of you. In your pamphlet, you will then write down what the essences smell like to you (earthly, strong, fruity, etc). It was so interesting to learn how certain notes last for an hour (such as citrus and aromatic notes), while others last up to four hours (like woody notes). After learning how to structure your own Eau de Cologne with the essences available, you will then set out on your own to create your perfect scent! This was truly such an enjoyable way to spend a Saturday morning.
After your experience, you will be taken on a guided tour of the museum that ends in the Fragonard store, where you can smell some products to see how your Eau de Cologne measures up! It is here that you will have the opportunity to purchase perfumes, soaps, diffusers, and more. I myself took home some small bottles of perfume (Belle Chérie, Étoile, and Grenade Pivoine), as I have learned that I am going to leave perfumery to the professionals!
inside the Musée du Parfum
Please note that this perfume making class is in French, though there is a mini version where you can create your own Eau de Toilette in English, Spanish, or Chinese.
