Perfumery Course

Lesson 1 • Raw Material Categories

Introduces naturals, synthetics, and isolates as the three pillars of perfumery ingredients. Students categorize materials by origin and functional role.

Lesson 2 • Measurement and Safety Basics

Introduces units, dilution math, and fundamental safety protocols for lab work. Ensures students handle materials correctly from the first session onward.

Lesson 3 • History and Culture of Perfumery

Traces fragrance use from ancient civilizations to modern industry. Contextualizes current practices within a global cultural and commercial heritage.

Lesson 4 • Fragrance Families and Wheels

Presents major olfactory families and classification systems used industry-wide. Students apply wheels to sort and describe unfamiliar scents accurately.

Lesson 1 • Essential Oils and Absolutes

Examines extraction methods and olfactory character of major botanical materials. Students link production method to scent quality and cost implications.

Lesson 2 • Building a Reference Smell Library

Guides systematic smelling practice using structured evaluation sheets. Students develop a personal annotated library of at least 80 materials.

Lesson 3 • Core Synthetic Aroma Chemicals

Introduces the most commercially significant synthetic molecules by chemical family and odor profile. Students smell and name each material from memory.

Lesson 4 • Animal-Derived and Ethical Alternatives

Reviews traditional animal ingredients and the synthetic replacements now standard in ethical perfumery. Students evaluate replacements against originals sensorially.

Lesson 1 • Olfactory Memory Training Exercises

Provides daily drills to strengthen recall, recognition speed, and discrimination ability. Students demonstrate measurable improvement over a four-week training arc.

Lesson 2 • Odor Descriptors and Vocabulary

Builds a precise, shared vocabulary for communicating fragrance character professionally. Students map descriptors to materials and use them in written reports.

Lesson 3 • Smelling Strips and Skin Evaluation

Compares blotter and skin evaluation protocols and explains when each is appropriate. Students document how skin chemistry alters fragrance perception.

Lesson 4 • Structured Panel Evaluation Methods

Covers trained panel design, scoring scales, and statistical interpretation of results. Students run a mini panel session and analyze the data produced.

Lesson 1 • Fixatives and Longevity

Covers how fixatives anchor volatile materials and extend fragrance longevity on skin. Students test fixative additions and measure performance change.

Lesson 2 • The Fragrance Pyramid Model

Explains evaporation rates and how top, heart, and base notes interact over time. Students predict dry-down behavior from ingredient volatility data.

Lesson 3 • Formula Documentation Standards

Establishes professional notation, versioning, and record-keeping for fragrance formulas. Students produce a fully documented formula ready for iteration.

Lesson 4 • Accords: Building Blocks of Formulas

Defines accords as harmonious multi-ingredient blends that read as a single scent. Students construct rose, woody, and citrus accords from scratch.

Lesson 1 • Safety Data Sheets and Labeling

Covers SDS creation, allergen declaration requirements, and consumer-facing label content. Students draft a compliant SDS and label for a sample fine fragrance product.

Lesson 2 • Skin Sensitization and QSAR

Explains sensitization pathways, quantitative structure-activity relationships, and risk assessment tools. Students apply QSAR logic to evaluate a novel ingredient's risk profile.

Lesson 3 • IFRA Standards Application

Teaches how to read IFRA amendments, usage categories, and maximum usage levels. Students calculate compliant usage levels for three restricted materials in a formula.

Lesson 4 • Documentation for Market Authorization

Guides preparation of product dossiers, stability data packages, and claims substantiation files. Students assemble a complete pre-market documentation set for a sample product.

Lesson 1 • Functional Fragrance Applications

Adapts fine fragrance principles to rinse-off and leave-on personal care and home products. Students reformulate a fine fragrance accord for a body wash base.

Lesson 2 • Alcohol and Carrier Selection

Evaluates ethanol grades, alternative carriers, and their effect on scent projection and skin feel. Students compare carriers using standardized evaluation criteria.

Lesson 3 • Fine Fragrance Formulation

Applies pyramid and accord skills to create a complete fine fragrance from brief to bottled sample. Students produce a documented EDP formula with evaluation notes.

Lesson 4 • Concentration Levels and Definitions

Defines parfum, EDP, EDT, EDC, and other concentration tiers with their typical usage contexts. Students calculate and prepare each concentration from a base formula.

Lesson 1 • Trend Research and Market Analysis

Applies fragrance trend forecasting and competitive benchmarking to brief interpretation. Students identify three trend-aligned ingredient directions for a given brief.

Lesson 2 • Mood Boards and Olfactory Mapping

Uses visual and sensory tools to translate abstract concepts into concrete ingredient choices. Students build a mood board and map it to a preliminary ingredient palette.

Lesson 3 • Concept Iteration and Client Feedback

Structures the revision cycle between perfumer and client using professional communication protocols. Students role-play a feedback session and revise a concept accordingly.

Lesson 4 • Anatomy of a Fragrance Brief

Deconstructs commercial and artistic briefs into target audience, mood, olfactory direction, and constraints. Students annotate three real-world briefs using a structured framework.

Lesson 1 • Advanced Accord Techniques

Explores chypre, fougere, gourmand, and soliflore accord construction at professional depth. Students build each accord type and evaluate them against classic benchmarks.

Lesson 2 • Layering and Complexity Strategies

Teaches deliberate layering of accords to create depth, surprise, and evolving dry-down. Students design a formula with a minimum of three distinct olfactory phases.

Lesson 3 • Portfolio Presentation Skills

Prepares students to present their signature fragrance professionally to industry evaluators. Students deliver a timed pitch with formula rationale, concept board, and sample.

Lesson 4 • Signature Fragrance Development

Guides the full creative process from personal concept to finished, evaluated signature scent. Students document every iteration and produce a final presentation-ready sample.