Come experiment with making perfume at The Institute for Art and Olfaction’s public open sessions. Spaces are highly limited and you must reserve your spot in advance.
ABOUT
Blending aromatic molecules together into a composed perfume is not only fun, but creative, challenging and – sometimes – kinda relaxing. We can’t promise you that you’ll make the next Chanel No. 5, but we can guarantee that you’ll come away with a healthy respect for the art, science and skill it takes to make a perfume.
Open Sessions are the IAO’s longest running program, and are designed precisely for beginners who learn best by diving in, intermediate perfumers who want to explore new materials, or advanced perfumers who want to co-work with a diverse and creative community.
Relaxed and self-directed, these informal sessions are a great chance to get your first experiences, or refine your blending techniques, using the IAO’s abundant organ.
After getting a one-hour introduction to the evening’s curated materials, you will be able to independently tinker with materials of your choice in a casual, social setting. We have everything you need: Aromatic materials (natural, synthetic, and some accords), perfumer’s alcohol, beakers and droppers, scent strips and bottles… All you need to bring is a notebook, and and open mind. Down the rabbit hole you go!
WHAT TO EXPECT
Upon first arrival, there is a one hour smelling session with the evening’s attendees. You will be prompted to talk about and – eventually – select materials. When you’ve decided which scents you’d like to work with, we’ll make your vials and set you up at a work station with your materials. You can take the vials home, of course, as well as anything you make during your session. At the end of the session, we help you make a small spray vial of your favorite formula.
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
COSTS
To attend open sessions, you must pay a lab fee, which includes the use of our labware, glassware, pipettes, scent strips, as well as our session moderators’ instructions. We have two cost options:
+ Materials included (includes 6 x 5/8 dram vials): $50.00
+ Materials not included (bring materials from home, or buy them at IAO): $20.00 + Materials a la carte
Aromatic materials are available for purchase on site. We accept cash, paypal, Venmo and credit cards. If paying by cash, bring small bills.
+ 5/8 dram vial: $4.00
+ 1 dram vial: $6.00
Please note that whether or not you have attended before, you must reserve your space in advance. If you just show up without reserving a spot, there is no guarantee we will be able to accommodate you. All levels are welcome, but our open sessions are 18 and up (or 14+, with adult supervision).
We accept cash, paypal or credit cards. If paying by cash, bring small bills.
Please note that whether or not you have attended before, you must reserve your space in advance. If you just show up without reserving a spot, there is no guarantee we will be able to accommodate you.
Maximum capacity is 8 people, all levels are welcome, but our open sessions are 18 and up (or 14+, with adult supervision).
LOCATION
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
To find us: 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.