The Institute for Art and Olfaction

5-Day Perfumery Intensive in Athens Greece (in person)
2026-03-02 10:00 - 2026-03-06 18:00 (America/Tijuana) | Baruti Athens, Karori 13, Athens, 10551, Greece
Learn more: https://docs.google.com/document/d/18clnW08dH-RVpGle3M2cCAL43fLHrMHjRJgVSzi6XhQ/edit?usp=sharing
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The Institute for Art and Olfaction and perfumer Spyros Drosopoulos team up to offer a five day in person intensive in Athens, Greece, in Baruti’s fully stocked laboratory. This introduction to perfumery will cover the scientific foundation of the practice, perfume formulation, and – of course – all the materials and tips an independent perfumer could ask for.
Email us to be placed on the waiting list: hello@artandolfaction.com

Photo credit: Monastiraki Square and Acropolis in Athens by dronepicr (cc-Attribution 2.0 Generic)

Introduction to Perfume Blending: Freestyle (in person)
2026-03-10 17:30 - 20:00 | The Institute for Art and Olfaction, 932 Chung King Rd, Los Angeles, CA, 90012, United States
Sign up: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/introduction-to-perfume-blending-freestyle-in-person-tickets-1984092126962?aff=oddtdtcreator&keep_tld=true
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Join us for Introduction to Blending, a class for beginners to perfumery that is focused on learning how to blend with aromatic materials, and how to create (and balance) a formula. Perfume-lovers and burgeoning olfactory artists have the opportunity to jump right into making their scent dreams a reality, with access to the hundreds of aromatic materials in the IAO lab space.
The class will begin with a quick primer to the world of aromatic materials: synthetics vs. naturals, top/middle/base notes, and dilutions. Participants will be guided through the process of setting up a workstation and how to write a perfume formula, with proportions and balance in mind.
The second portion of the class will be the open exploration of the IAO Organ by all participants. After making individual selections, we will get to blending! With Julianne Lee guiding the class, each participant will learn to make bold changes, subtle refinements, and expand their final formula into a small spray vial to take home.

Jasmine: Perfume Accords (online)
2026-03-12 10:00 - 12:00 | On Zoom
Sign up: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/jasmine-perfume-accords-online-tickets-1963616955172?aff=oddtdtcreator
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Explore fragrance categories through specific classes designed by The Institute for Art and Olfaction to help new perfumers gain sensory understanding and technical perfumery skills.
For newcomers to the Institute for Art and Olfaction or beginners to the art of blending, this class is recommended as an entry point into our Perfume Accords series.
In the latest of her accords classes, Ashley leads an investigation into jasmine through two perfume accords: a jasmine absolute and a simplified jasmine DNA perfume accord. Learning how to assemble perfume accords leads to a greater adeptness at blending, and well-trained noses. Learn how to construct accords as you explore the individual aromatic components of these perfume accords.
Our accords series helps students of perfumery understand the molecular components of the various facets and types of the most important notes in perfumery. By attending this class, an emerging perfumer or scent artist will expand their capabilities and training, gain the materials knowledge to add a new accord to their arsenal, and leave with a deeper understanding of the artistry and science behind perfumery.
Materials Needed/Pre-Class Homework: We will send you a master document containing the materials list and formulation exercises upon signup via the confirmation email from Eventbrite. Please purchase these materials before attending class. The estimated cost of the perfume materials is $86, not including any labware you may need to purchase. The formulation exercises must be accomplished before the class meets.
Takeaways:
– Technical knowledge about the molecular components of the material being reconstructed through the perfume accord
– A greater familiarity with aromatic components and combinations
– The capacity to reconstruct the material through its components

Experimental Scent Summit: Talk proposals due
2026-03-15 23:50 - 23:59 | The Institute for Art and Olfaction, 932 Chung King Rd, Los Angeles, CA, 90012, United States
Submit your talk proposal: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScFYgYJ7JlJQpeDQRLcbye4NywK8b4KKj85IIu5e66Q3KJeKw/viewform
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The Experimental Scent Summit is an ongoing program produced by the Institute for Art and Olfaction (Los Angeles) and Smell Lab (Berlin). A non-for-profit venture, ESS is designed to build community and learning in creative practices with scent. Through informal talks, performative presentations, and group chats, practitioners can share experimental work in an open and unrestrained environment that facilitates collaboration and inquiry.
2026 EDITION

ESS 2026, our 7th edition, will take place between 10am and 6pm on June 9, 2026 at ImpactHUB in central Athens, Greece (Karaiskaki 28, Athens, Greece 10554). For this edition, we are curating an intimate series of conversations, talks, and art performances that present new research and practices, and that prioritize audience engagement.
DUE DATES
Submissions for ESS are due by March 15, by 11:59pm Pacific Time (GMT-8).
We will inform speakers of their status by the end of the day Pacific Time on March 31, 2026.
SPEAKING FORMAT
We are interested in the following types of presentations:
– Research presentations on new findings in the fields of olfaction, history, culture, and other related academic disciplines.
– An experimental performative approach that engages the audience
– Conversations (between two people)
– Panel discussions (up to four people)
What we are not looking for:
– Promotional presentations of self or company

Introduction to Perfume Blending: Freestyle (in person)
2026-03-17 17:30 - 20:00 | The Institute for Art and Olfaction, 932 Chung King Rd, Los Angeles, CA, 90012, United States
Sign up: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/introduction-to-perfume-blending-freestyle-in-person-tickets-1984092236289?aff=oddtdtcreator&keep_tld=true
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Join us for Introduction to Blending, a class for beginners to perfumery that is focused on learning how to blend with aromatic materials, and how to create (and balance) a formula. Perfume-lovers and burgeoning olfactory artists have the opportunity to jump right into making their scent dreams a reality, with access to the hundreds of aromatic materials in the IAO lab space.
The class will begin with a quick primer to the world of aromatic materials: synthetics vs. naturals, top/middle/base notes, and dilutions. Participants will be guided through the process of setting up a workstation and how to write a perfume formula, with proportions and balance in mind.
The second portion of the class will be the open exploration of the IAO Organ by all participants. After making individual selections, we will get to blending! With Julianne Lee guiding the class, each participant will learn to make bold changes, subtle refinements, and expand their final formula into a small spray vial to take home.

Springtime Smells: Perfume-Making Workshop (in person)
2026-03-19 17:30 - 20:00 | The Institute for Art and Olfaction, 932 Chung King Rd, Los Angeles, CA, 90012, United States
Sign up: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/springtime-smells-perfume-making-workshop-with-minetta-rogers-in-person-tickets-1982750862203?aff=oddtdtcreator
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Join Minetta Rogers for a guided blending session celebrating the season’s change — and, of course, perfume-making! For beginners, but all levels are welcome.
For the first portion of this smelling and blending session, we will learn about some smells of spring. Scent strips will be handed out by your friendly Institute for Art and Olfaction team, and we will spend time smelling and discussing our impressions of aromatic materials associated with the season.
We will start the second portion of the session by briefly discussing and practicing blending scent. Each student will have the opportunity to blend with aromatic materials from the session’s selected palette. We will spend the rest of the session experimenting with our own short formulas.
Each attendee goes home with a small trial of their aromatic blend.
Topics covered:
+ introduction to aromatic materials and scent evaluation
+ introduction to blending and composing scent
+ introduction to expanding formulas
Take-Aways:
+ spray vial of chosen scent blend

Open Sessions: Community (in person)
2026-03-23 17:30 - 19:30 | The Institute for Art and Olfaction, 932 Chung King Rd, Los Angeles, CA, 90012, United States
Sign up: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/open-sessions-community-tickets-1984201843126?aff=oddtdtcreator
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Learn how to create perfume at the IAO’s open sessions: Learn by doing, and make new friends along the way!

Open Sessions: Community reflects the IAO’s mission of making the aromatic arts accessible to all. This offering is designed to ensure that cost is not a barrier to participation, and to welcome those for whom our standard registration fees may not be feasible.
Blending aromatic molecules together into a composed perfume is not only fun, but creative, challenging and – sometimes – kinda relaxing. We can’t promise that you’ll make the next Santal 33, but we can guarantee that you’ll come away with a healthy respect for the art, science, materials, and skill it takes to make perfume.
Open Sessions are the IAO’s longest running program, and focus on hands-on experience for newcomers to the practice. In a casual, self-led setting, you’ll independently tinker with materials from the experimental organ, select five to work with, and get to making your first trials!
We have everything you need: Aromatic materials (natural, synthetic, and accords), 5/8 dram vials and pipettes, and scent strips. You go home with your formula, what’s left of your materials and — most importantly — a new awareness of what it takes to make a perfume. All you need to bring is an open mind, and down the rabbit hole you go!

Tracing Perfume: Amber & Balsamic, Part 2 (in person)
2026-03-24 17:00 - 18:30 | The Institute for Art and Olfaction, 932 Chung King Rd, Los Angeles, CA, 90012, United States
Sign up: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/tracing-perfume-amber-balsamic-part-2-in-person-tickets-1977674929953?aff=oddtdtcreator
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Dana El Masri explores the history of fine fragrance through a series of classes that cover the genealogy of scent. How did aromatic materials influence perfumery? How did perfumers draw from the same source to produce such diverse expressions? Each class in this series explores the most important perfumes in 20th and 21st perfumery from the perspective of the materials that inform them.
In this class, Dana covers perfumes highlighting ambery and balsamic materials, focusing on beeswax, cistus-labdanum, and vanilla.. She will explore the material provenance, aromatic aspects, and notable perfumes that make use of these ambery and balsamic notes in various ways. Then, as a group, the class will smell and discuss a series of notes and perfumes that elucidate the category.

Topics covered:
History and cultural impact of perfume materials
Technical information about perfume materials
Overview of these materials in classic, contemporary, mass market, and niche perfumes
Image credit: Resin image by Oleksandr Skochko on Unsplash

Tinctures and Tincturing for Perfumers, with Lakenda Wallace (online)
2026-03-24 17:00 - 19:00 | On Zoom
Sign up: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/tinctures-and-tincturing-for-perfumers-with-lakenda-wallace-online-tickets-1982233121627?aff=oddtdtcreator
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Perfumer Lakenda Wallace explores the technicalities of creating tinctures and absolutes for perfumery, in an online class.

In this online session, Lakenda covers the how-tos and what not-to-dos of tincturing, systematically guiding you through every step of converting enchanting aromatics into lovely tinctures for use in perfume-making.
In addition to a deep dive into the technical aspects of the process, Lakenda will also discuss need-to-know topics for those making tinctures at home. These will include foraging and sustainability, choosing plants for skin safety, equipment set-up and recommendations, and how to work safely. Lakenda will also briefly discuss the creation of absolutes. The online class will end with a list of resources for hands-on tincturing, with ample time for questions and discussion.
Class takeaways:
+ Step by step instructions on how to create tinctures and absolutes
+ Review of plants for use in tincturing, with notes on safety and plants to avoid
+ A review of common mistakes made throughout the production process
+ Recommendations on material suppliers and equipment
+ Resources for further research

Rose: Perfume Accords (online)
2026-03-26 10:00 - 12:00 | On Zoom
Sign up: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/rose-perfume-accords-online-tickets-1963624830728?aff=oddtdtcreator
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Explore fragrance categories through specific classes designed by The Institute for Art and Olfaction to help new perfumers gain sensory understanding and technical perfumery skills.
For newcomers to the Institute for Art and Olfaction or beginners to the art of blending, this class is recommended as an entry point into our Perfume Accords series.
In the latest of her accords classes, Ashley leads an investigation into a deep, floral, spicy, rose perfume accord. Learning how to assemble perfume accords leads to a greater adeptness at blending, and well-trained noses. Learn how to construct accords as you explore the individual aromatic components of these perfume accords.
Our accords series helps students of perfumery understand the molecular components of the various facets and types of the most important notes in perfumery. By attending this class, an emerging perfumer or scent artist will expand their capabilities and training, gain the materials knowledge to add a new accord to their arsenal, and leave with a deeper understanding of the artistry and science behind perfumery.
Materials Needed/Pre-Class Homework: We will send you a master document containing the materials list and formulation exercises upon signup via the confirmation email from Eventbrite. Please purchase these materials before attending class. The estimated cost of the perfume materials is $77, not including any labware you may need to purchase. The formulation exercises must be accomplished before the class meets.

Takeaways:
– Technical knowledge about the molecular components of the material being reconstructed through the perfume accord
– A greater familiarity with aromatic components and combinations
– The capacity to reconstruct the material through its components

Olfactory Research Notes: Queens and Perfumes in Ancient Egypt with Dora Goldsmith (online)
2026-03-31 10:00 - 11:30 | On Zoom
Sign up: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/olfactory-research-notes-queens-and-perfumes-in-ancient-egypt-online-tickets-1983574389395?aff=oddtdtcreator
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Queens and Perfumes in Ancient Egypt: Hatshepsut and Cleopatra: Egyptologist Dora Goldsmith joins the Institute for Art and Olfaction for the latest talk in the IAO’s Olfactory Research Notes series, sharing her research on royal perfumes in Ancient Egypt.
Ancient Egyptians queens have always captured our imagination and interest. They were smart and just rulers who had an outstanding appreciation for perfumes. However, there are two queens who were more than just perfume aficionados. Hatshepsut and Cleopatra were visionaries of perfumery, whose perfume inventions shaped the olfactory history of ancient Egypt and the entire Mediterranean in antiquity. In this, class Egyptologist Dora Goldsmith will teach you everything to know about ancient Egyptian queens and perfumes. As an added bonus, she will walk you through the reconstruction of Cleopatra’s famous perfume, the Mendesian, and teach you how to make it yourself.
This presentation will be followed by a question and answer session with attendees.

Takeaways and Learning Points:

Queens: Which queens stand out in ancient Egyptian history as related to perfumes?
Goddesses: How did goddesses influence queens in their olfactory practices? Which goddesses did queens try to emulate through scents and why?
Perfumers: Who were the perfumers of queens and what do we know about them?
Inventions: How did Hatshepsut and Cleopatra reinvent Egyptian perfumery? What were their innovations precisely and what prompted their new visions?
Politics: How did Hatshepsut and Cleopatra use scents to establish their social status and strengthen their political career?
Experimental archaeology: How can we replicate the Mendesian perfume in the modern age? Dora Goldsmith will explain what we know about the Mendesian based on written evidence and show you the perfume-making process step-by-step.
