Scents by the Bay Academy: Perfume Mastery Class 1 - Berkeley

Learn the Art. Understand the Science. Create with Confidence. Custom Perfume Making.



2.5 hours Location Berkeley Class size 3 to 20 guests   $165

Begin Your Journey Into the Art & Science of Perfumery - Class 1 of 3
Have you ever wondered why some fragrances captivate you while others don't? Why the same perfume smells different on every person? Or how professional perfumers transform hundreds of raw materials into a beautifully balanced fragrance?
Foundations of Perfumery is the first course in the Scents by the Bay Academy Perfume Mastery Series, designed to introduce you to the fascinating world of fragrance creation.
During this immersive, hands-on experience, you'll discover how perfumes are built, how to evaluate scent like a perfumer, and how to begin developing your own unique fragrance style.
Unlike a typical "make your own perfume" workshop, this academy course teaches the principles behind professional fragrance creation while giving you the opportunity to create a custom perfume that reflects your personal taste.
Whether you're simply curious about fragrance, searching for a new creative hobby, or considering advanced perfume studies, this class provides the foundation every perfumer should know.
What You'll Learn
  • The fascinating 5, 000-year history of perfume
  • How our sense of smell influences emotion and memory
  • The four major fragrance families and how they relate
  • How to navigate and use the Fragrance Wheel
  • Understanding Top, Heart, and Base notes
  • Why fragrances evolve differently on blotters and skin
  • Basic perfume composition and fragrance balance
  • Professional scent evaluation techniques
  • How to begin thinking like a perfumer
Throughout class you'll:
  • Smell dozens of professional fragrance materials
  • Compare fragrance families side-by-side
  • Evaluate oils on blotters and skin
  • Record observations in your Academy workbook
  • Experiment with multiple fragrance combinations
  • Create your own custom perfume formula
  • Blend and bottle your signature fragrance
  • Name your custom creation
You'll Leave With
  • Your custom handcrafted perfume
  • Scents by the Bay Academy workbook
  • Certificate of Completion
  • Fragrance reference materials
  • Confidence in evaluating and discussing perfume
  • A solid foundation for continuing into the Perfume Mastery Series
Perfect For
  • Fragrance lovers
  • Beginners with no experience
  • Creative individuals
  • Date nights
  • Friends looking for a unique experience
  • Future perfumers
  • Anyone wanting a deeper appreciation of fragrance
Private bookings for 3 or more guests.
What you'll get
  • Approximately 2½-hour instructor-led class
  • Academy workbook
  • Professional fragrance wheel & reference materials
  • Guided fragrance evaluation
  • Hands-on blending instruction
  • Custom blended roll-on perfume (1/4 oz or your preferred class size)
  • Blending set of 5 - 3 ml dropper bottles of your choice to play with at home + blotters, droppers and mixing cups
  • Certificate of Completion
Knowledge required
None, perfect for every fragrance enthusiasts wanting to become perfumer.
What to bring
We recommend you don't wear perfume when you come - it can interfere with your blending experience!
Add-on available for this class
  • Additional 5 set of 3mL samples ($50)
You can add this when you book (optional).
Suitable for

This experience would also be a unique gift for her, gift for mom or Xmas gift.

Location

2926 College Avenue, Berkeley, CA

Scents by the Bay Academy: Perfume Mastery Class 1 - Berkeley location
Verified reviews

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Recent reviews of Scents by the Bay Academy: Perfume Mastery Class 1 - Berkeley

  • 5/5 from Michael Ponsades, attended Aug 2026: Excellent next step after their beginners' group event. Super informative and great reference materials to dive further into fragrances. Can't wait to experiment with the take home kit. A must for scent enthusiasts.
Your teacher

Scents by the Bay
Scents by the Bay

5.0 (98)
female Women-owned

Hi! I’m Tarah, founder of Scents by the Bay, and my journey with scent began from a deep love of creativity, self-expression, and holistic wellness. Myself, and my amazing team LOVES teaching these private appointments and classes and we can’t wait to meet you!
A bit about my company: I started my business as a way to blend my passion for aromatherapy, sustainable living, and handcrafted products into something that could make people feel connected, empowered, and cared for—whether they’re lighting a candle, blending a custom perfume, or gifting something meaningful.
The pivotal moment that really sparked my interest was when I began learning about how scent is tied to memory, emotion, and healing. That led me down a rabbit hole of essential oils, natural perfumery, and candle crafting. I began formulating my own clean, skin-safe blends in small batches—and soon people were asking for more! From there, Scents by the Bay grew from a kitchen project into a full retail space and workshop hub in Berkeley, California.
I absolutely love teaching because I get to watch people of all ages light up as they learn something new—whether it's a child making their very first perfume or a group of professionals discovering how scent can connect them in surprising ways. My amazing team and I have led hundreds of classes and corporate events - making scent education both approachable and fun. We’ve hosted everything from birthday parties and date nights to custom team-building workshops for well-known Bay Area companies.
Something people might not know is that our candles double as massage oil, made from a proprietary blend of organic shea butter, cocoa butter, jojoba oil, and soy wax. They’re one of our bestsellers and just one of the many ways we create with care and intention. Our products are crafted using organic and sustainable ingredients, and we’re proud to be woman-owned and rooted in community.
If you’re looking for a creative, feel-good experience that engages your senses and leaves you with something beautiful and personal, we’d love to welcome you to Scents by the Bay!
NEW - I have opened a Beauty Collective in El Sobrante, CA that has a smaller blending bar (with the perfect amount of oils for custom blending classes) for a more intimate setting for blending sessions. Check our schedule to book there!

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2026-11-20 15:00:00
class 0 4FHB8OR140 b96a490f1dd90bcefdba5812d2d1076a 1 production oakland-bay-area Oakland (Bay Area) CA US oakland-bay-area