Citrus Nose Training Perfumery Class

26 July @ 13:00 - 14:30

This online Nose Training features citrus materials. Learn to smell like a perfumer & create simple accords. Live Q&A session included.

Join independent perfumer Darren Alan of Darren Alan Perfumes as he guides you through an exploration of seven of the most commonly used citrus notes in perfumery. From the comfort of your own home, you will experience each material through guided smelling and learn about the role of citrus notes in perfumery.

Citrus materials are among the oldest and most important notes in this art. They add brightness, freshness, and diffusion to fragrances, often being the first notes perceived by the nose. Unfortunately, nose training with citrus materials is frequently overlooked by novice perfumers and fragrance enthusiasts due to their common culinary associations. A lack of understanding and study of these materials can lead to imbalanced perfume compositions that feel heavy rather than having a sparkling and captivating opening.

In this class, we will smell, study and evaluate the citrus materials and discuss their roles in perfumery. We will conclude with a live Q&A session, where Darren will address your questions about the class content.

Learn to think and smell like a perfumer as we navigate top, mid, and base notes. Sniff, imagine, and experiment before selecting your favorite combinations for your unique creation. I have curated a collection of the finest citrus materials from around the world just for you. No expensive equipment is required. My optional add-on Citrus Nose Training Kit is convenient, affordable, and filled with exquisite citruses hand-picked from my favorite suppliers. I have pre-diluted and measured your raw materials, so you won’t need perfumer’s alcohol, a scale, or other pricey lab equipment.

If you choose to use your own materials for the class instead of purchasing the pre-made Citrus Nose Training Kit, please prepare 5mL of each material in the appropriate dilution before the class. Ensure that your materials are professional, perfumery-grade, and suitable for fine fragrance creation. Fragrance oils, candle oils, and oils from supermarkets are not considered professional grade and may not yield a high-quality fragrance composition.

NOTE: You will also need some ancillary supplies such as perfume test strips (paper blotters), a small notebook, and a pencil to take notes and write down your material names. These supplies are easily available from Amazon and Ebay. These items are not included in our Nose Training Kit. You may also wish to have some paper towels on hand in case of a spill.

IMPORTANT! Please do not research or look up the materials before class. The goal is not to memorize their descriptions, but to train your nose to smell and assess them in the moment, thereby building your awareness and skill. Taking these steps will contribute to the quality of your and your classmates’ learning experience.

If you choose to purchase & dilute your own materials for this class instead of ordering the pre-made Nose Training Kit, you will need the following:

RAW MATERIALS LIST: