Florence smells different after you blend it yourself. In an ancient, atmospheric workshop, you step into a Renaissance-style world of alchemists and apothecaries, then learn how fragrances are actually built—not just admired.

I love the hands-on blending with expert direction, and I love that you leave with your very own 30 ml custom perfume in a bottle you made yourself. It’s part craft class, part scent science, and you’ll feel the pieces click as you match notes and proportions.

One possible drawback: this is a short, focused lab-style session (about 1 hour 30 minutes), so it’s not really a sightseeing tour. If you want a big Florence walking route, you’ll need to pair this with other plans.

Key highlights worth showing up for

• Antica Spezieria Erboristeria San Simone: the workshop setting feels like it belongs to a different century
• Renaissance perfumery context: herbs, flowers, and fruits connected to historic medicinal thinking
• Master perfumer-led guidance: you blend, adjust, and learn what each ingredient changes
• A custom scent you keep: your results come home with you in a 30 ml bottle
• Small group size (up to 30): enough time to get help without turning into a production line

Step into Antica Spezieria San Simone (where perfume feels like history)

This workshop happens in an old-school Florence perfumery setting, specifically at Antica Spezieria Erboristeria San Simone. Even before you start mixing, the place sets the tone: it feels like you’ve stepped into a working apothecary corner where rare glassware, ampules, and precious essences belong on the shelf.

Florence has long ties to fragrance-making, and the lesson doesn’t treat perfume as magic. You get a mix of history and practical know-how, with the workshop atmosphere doing half the work. The whole experience leans on the idea that scent was once tied to medicine—using herbs, flowers, and fruits for their properties—while also being an art for courtly life.

The vibe is especially good if you like experiences you can’t photograph your way through. This one asks you to participate, smell, compare, and build. It’s hands-on rather than performative.

The Florence perfume story you’ll actually use

A big part of the value here is what you learn along the way. You get an introduction to the history of perfumery in Florence, framed through the Renaissance world of apothecaries and alchemists. You’ll hear how influential names like Catherine de Medici and René le Florentine fit into that cultural story—court culture, reputation, and the idea that perfume was part of status and ritual, not just personal scent.

What I like is that the history isn’t a separate lecture you endure. It feeds directly into what you do next: how you choose materials and how you think about balance. You’re not only getting told what sounds nice. You’re learning the logic behind blending.

In practical terms, this is the difference between buying a perfume and understanding one. After this, you’ll be able to walk into a fragrance shop and make smarter choices because you’ll know what it means when a scent feels too sharp, too sweet, or too flat.

What happens during the 1 hour 30 minutes class

Plan for a straightforward flow: you meet at Via Ghibellina 190 (50122 Firenze FI), and the class runs about 1 hour 30 minutes. You return to the same meeting point at the end.

Here’s how the experience usually feels from start to finish:

Welcome and lab-style setup

You’re welcomed into the store and artisanal laboratory space. The key point is that you’re not stuck in a classroom. You’re in the working environment—close to the ingredients and tools that make perfume-making feel like a craft.

The master perfumer’s guidance

Your master perfumer (and small group setup) guides you through the art of making fragrance. The workshop’s framing is that you’re following in the footsteps of historical perfumers and apothecaries, but the delivery is modern: you’ll learn how scent ingredients work together and how to build toward a finished result.

Selecting ingredients and blending your scent

This is the hands-on core. You work from a kit of essences, and you create a custom perfume based on your choices. The process involves blending scents—then refining so the final perfume matches what you want.

If you enjoy creative work with clear instructions, you’ll likely have a great time. The experience is designed so you can participate without needing chemistry training.

Create your own custom-made fragrance

At the end, you craft your final blend. This is the moment you stop thinking like a student and start thinking like a perfumer. You’re aiming for something personal, not something generic.

In the most positive experiences I’ve seen from this kind of class format, the instructor style makes a difference. One experience described the instructor as a nose in training, and that tone matters—patient, calm guidance that helps you adjust choices instead of rushing you through.

Why the ingredients and methods matter more than you think

The workshop’s story about combining scientific knowledge of medicine with the healing powers of herbs, flowers, and fruits might sound poetic at first. But it’s actually useful.

It teaches you that perfume ingredients have roles, like:

• bringing brightness (often fruit or florals)
• adding structure (base notes that make a scent last)
• shaping the overall mood (how it reads on skin)

Even if the kit is limited to a set of essences, the blending lessons help you understand what happens when you change ratios. You’ll get the sense that perfume is built, not found.

This is why people who love scent—whether they’re beginners or fragrance fans—often have the best time. You get to experiment with real materials in a real setting, guided by someone who can explain what to adjust and why.

The best part: taking home a 30 ml bottle you made

The experience ends with a bottle of your own personalized perfume: 30 ml. That’s a very practical keepsake size. It’s big enough to wear, gift, and share a spritz or two without feeling like you’re carrying a tiny vial.

This is also where the class earns its keep. With a typical Florence workshop, you might leave with a craft item that sits in a drawer. Here, the payoff is sensory. You’ll remember what you chose the day you made it, because you can compare how it performs over hours.

If you’re the type who hates buying souvenirs that don’t get used, this is one of the safer bets.

Small group reality: up to 30, but still personal

The group is capped at a maximum of 30 travelers, and it’s described as an English small group tour. That matters more than it might sound.

Smaller groups mean:

• you’re more likely to get direct feedback while blending
• the instructor can help with adjustments
• you’re not stuck watching while someone else does the work

One experience described the instructor as kind and patient, with plenty of knowledge in customizing scents. That matches what you hope for in a hands-on class: time to try, correct, and finish with something you actually like.

Price and value: is $29 worth it in Florence?

At $29, this sits in the “try something memorable without blowing your budget” category. And for perfume, that’s a good value.

Here’s why:

• You’re paying for guided instruction in a historic workshop setting.
• You’re paying for a custom process, not just sampling.
• You leave with a 30 ml bottle, which is a real product you can use.

Compare this to buying a bottle of perfume in Florence at a boutique price. Even if you end up not loving the scent you created, you still gained an experience you can’t replicate by walking through a store. For many visitors, that’s the point: learn, create, and take a tangible result home.

The only caveat: it’s not an all-day experience. If you’re hoping for a full morning or an extended itinerary, you’ll likely want to pair it with another activity after.

Logistics to know before you go

A few practical notes so you don’t lose time.

• Meeting point: Via Ghibellina, 190, 50122 Firenze FI
• Duration: about 1 hour 30 minutes
• Ticket: mobile ticket
• Language: small group tour in English
• Where you end up: back at the meeting point

Hotel pickup and drop-off aren’t included, so plan your own route into this part of Florence. It also means you’re free to connect this with other nearby plans on foot.

One caution based on an experience report: during booking, a guest said they were asked for an actual photocopy of their passport to confirm the appointment, even though they had entered passport info during booking. Requirements can change, so it’s smart to confirm what ID documents you’ll need before you arrive—especially if your travel documents are on your phone only.

Who should book this Florence perfume workshop

You’ll likely be happiest here if you:

• like hands-on activities more than museum-only visits
• want a creative souvenir that you’ll actually wear
• enjoy fragrance, even if you don’t know much yet
• want a short experience that fits into a day in the center

It can also work well for couples or friends because creating a scent together sparks conversation. Just remember: the class is focused on your own blending choices, so you’re both “doing,” not only observing.

Skip it if you’re looking for:

• a long guided walk through multiple Florence sights
• a passive show where you don’t need to smell and compare
• a full-day excursion

Should you book this perfume making class in Florence?

If you want an authentic-feeling Florence experience that trades crowds for craft, I think this is a strong yes. The historic workshop setting plus the chance to create a scent you take home makes it feel more valuable than many standard “tour and tasting” options.

My advice: book it if you’re excited by the idea of making something personal. Before you go, double-check any ID/document expectations tied to your booking, especially if you travel with digital copies only. If you do that, you’ll walk in ready to mix and walk out with a fragrance that feels genuinely yours.

FAQ

How long is the perfume making workshop?

It runs for about 1 hour 30 minutes.

Where is the meeting point in Florence?

The meeting point is Via Ghibellina, 190, 50122 Firenze FI, Italy.

What do I get at the end of the workshop?

You’ll create your own custom perfume and receive a 30 ml bottle to take home.

Is the workshop in English?

Yes, it’s offered as a small group tour in English.

Is it a small group?

Yes. The experience has a maximum of 30 travelers.

What’s included in the price?

The included items are the small group tour in English, entry to Antica Spezieria Erboristeria San Simone, an introduction to the history of perfumery in Florence, help creating your custom perfume, and the 30 ml bottle you make.

Is transportation or hotel pickup included?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off, plus transportation to or from attractions, are not included.

Do I need a mobile ticket?

Yes. The tour includes a mobile ticket.

What if I need to cancel?

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the experience starts. Changes made less than 24 hours before the start time aren’t accepted.

Do I need passport documentation for booking?

The booking process may ask for passport information, and one experience report stated that a photocopy of the passport was later requested to confirm the appointment. It’s smart to verify what documentation you personally need before you go.