Creating a Perfume

On my recent trip to Bali (which you can read about here), I created my own perfume. I have never done anything like this before. It was an amazing experience which I would highly recommend, if you ever have the opportunity.

I walked into the L’Atelier Parfums et Creations store in Ayana on my last day after walking past and wondering about the experience daily. I paid approx $80 to create my own perfume. The shop offer classes but I didn’t think I had enough time to take one of them so I literally just created my own.

The girls in store were really welcoming. The entire process was explained to me really simply and then I got down to business.

To create a perfume, you need base notes, middle notes and top notes. Each of the notes add up to a total of 12 drops. Base notes are the foundation upon which the perfume is created and are dense, heavy smells. Middle notes are the body of the smell. Top notes are the first smell you get and often don’t last long.

It was great fun, playing around with the various smells and working out which smells work together and which don’t. A the end of the session, I don’t think I had any skin left where I hadn’t tested a smell on it.

Each layer of the perfume requires at least two smells. I chose three for each note. I didn’t realize how the smell of the perfume could change from only a few drops difference.

I was given three opportunities to test and the created a full bottle of my favorite perfume which I named ‘Niamh’. Original – I know!

When I had decided on the right smell, the ladies in store, multiplied the mixture and bottled it for me.

I was warned when leaving not to open my bottle for 3 weeks after creation, to allow the essences to blend.

I was really delighted with my experience and impressed with the knowledge the girls had when guiding me throughout the process.