The short answer
In a perfume workshop you blend yourself, under guidance, from a fixed selection of raw materials or base scents. With a bespoke perfume a perfumer builds a new composition for you, from a blank structure. The first is mostly an experience. The second is a creation.
| Perfume workshop | Bespoke perfume | |
|---|---|---|
| Who composes the fragrance | You, with guidance | The perfumer, based on your story and choices |
| Starting point | A selection of existing raw materials or base scents | A blank composition |
| Duration | Usually part of a day | A few weeks: composition, refinement and maturation |
| The result | A blend you made yourself | A composition that is not based on an existing perfume |
| Repeatable | Differs per provider | Meant as a one-off creation |
| Fits | An outing, a group, getting to know fragrance | A fragrance that is truly yours, as a signature or a gift |
What you learn in a workshop
You smell raw materials, learn the difference between top, heart and base notes (read the explanation of the fragrance pyramid) and make a blend of your own. That is instructive and fun, especially with a group. The composition stays limited to what the workshop offers, though. And putting a perfume together in an afternoon is something other than developing one.
What makes a bespoke perfume different
At Kastoréll a bespoke perfume begins with a conversation: memories, scents you love or dislike, the occasion. Then you choose your scent path and the perfumer translates it into a formula, which is checked against the IFRA standards. The perfume gets time to mature, a name, a bottle and a personal card. That cannot be done in an hour, and that is the point.
When do you choose which?
- Choose a workshop if you want to get to know fragrance, are looking for an outing with others or first want to discover what you love.
- Choose a bespoke perfume if you want a fragrance nobody else has, as a signature or as a gift.
- You can also do both: a workshop to explore your taste, and then a bespoke perfume.
What to look for when choosing
- Who puts the formula together: you, a guide or a perfumer?
- Does the composition start blank or do you choose from existing blends?
- Is the formula checked against the safety standards (IFRA)?
- What do you take home: a bottle you blended yourself or a finished perfume with a name and card?
- Are time, costs and delivery clear in advance?
Frequently asked questions
Can I do a workshop first and have a bespoke perfume made afterwards?
Yes. A workshop helps you discover which scents and fragrance families you love. That knowledge sharpens the intake for a bespoke perfume, because you can describe better what you are looking for.
Can I have the perfume from a workshop made again later?
That differs per provider, so ask in advance. At Kastoréll a bespoke perfume is meant as a one-off creation. If you want to be able to reorder it later, ask about the possibilities during the intake.
How long does a bespoke perfume take?
Allow a few weeks: the composition, a refinement round and the maturation of the perfume take time. We discuss the planning during the intake.
What does a bespoke perfume cost?
That depends on the programme: how extensive the composition is, the size of the bottle and the finish. After a short conversation we make you a tailored proposal.