Open Sessions
2013 – present
Come experiment with making perfume at The Institute for Art and Olfaction’s open sessions.
In our open sessions, the IAO provides a space for first timers and advanced perfumers alike to learn and to expand their craft through direct action.
At open sessions, you can smell new materials, talk about scent with your peers, and – most importantly – create your own perfume formulas with the materials available in our experimental perfumer’s organ.
We provide a robust selection of natural and synthetic aromatic molecules, perfumer’s alcohol, beakers and droppers, scent strips and bottles, and guidance. In short, you get everything you’d need to start or further develop your experiments with making scents: The rest is up to you!
Open sessions are a core program of the IAO. We initiated the program in late 2013 in order to fulfill our mission to create public access to materials and learning around perfumery.
Note that we offer open sessions for first-timers—some “freestyle” (where you have access to the organe and minimal teaching time), some “structured” (where the session is instructor led, and materials are pre-curated). We also offer separate open sessions for returning students.
+ CHECK OUR CALENDAR FOR UPCOMING CLASSES
WHAT TO EXPECT
In our open sessions, you will tinker with perfumery materials in a casual, social setting. We have a great selection of natural and synthetic aromatic molecules, perfumer’s alcohol, beakers and droppers, scent strips and bottles… Everything you’d need to start or develop your experiments with perfumery.
Open sessions are set up to be casual, fun, communal, and relaxed, allowing attendees to learning from their peers and hands-on experimentation.
The sessions are recommended for all levels of perfumers: From absolute first timers to intermediate practitioners who want to expand and experiment in community.
TAKE-AWAYS
+ Smell a selection of aromatic materials guided by the IAO team, your own nose, and the group discussion.
+ Work with a set of aromatics of your choosing
+ Make your first perfume trials, or refine an existing formula.
+ Bring home a sample of your favorite trial in a small spray vial
+ Make new #friendswithpipettes
SCHEDULE AND LOCATION
Our open sessions happen several times a month. Note that whether or not you have attended before, you must reserve your space in advance. Maximum capacity is 12 people, all levels are welcome, but our open sessions are 18 and up (or 14+, with adult supervision).
+ Review our calendar for upcoming sessions.
The IAO is located in Los Angeles’ historic Chinatown neighborhood, on a pedestrian street that also hosts galleries, souvenir shops, production companies, design studios, two very cool parrots, and a cat named Kiki.
Street Address:
932 Chung King Road
Los Angeles CA. 90012
Chung King Road is a pedestrian-only road that runs parallel to Hill Street, between Hill St and Yale St. See more information here: http://artandolfaction.com/visit
The IAO is wheelchair accessible. Note there is a small 1″ lip at the threshold of the space.
+ Visit our directions page for access information + parking.
Questions? Email us at hello@artandolfaction.com