Woods Nose Training Perfumery Class
9 August @ 13:00 - 14:30
Join independent perfumer Darren Alan of Darren Alan Perfumes as he guides you through an exploration of seven of the most commonly used woody notes in perfumery. From the comfort of your own home, you will experience each material through guided smelling and learn about the role of woods in perfumery.
Woody materials provide depth and structure to a fragrance composition’s base and are useful in both feminine and masculine fragrances. Woods provide a foundation and help exalt the heart and top notes of the composition, and they are some of the longest-lasting materials on skin.
In this class, we will smell, study and evaluate woody 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 woody materials from around the world just for you. No expensive equipment is required. My optional add-on Woods Nose Training Kit is convenient, affordable, and filled with exquisite woods 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 Woods Nose Training Kit, please prepare 2mL 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.
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:
- 2mL Cedarwood Texas Essential Oil, 10% in SDA-40B
- 2mL Cedarwood Virginiana Essential Oil, 10% in SDA-40B
- 2mL East Indian Sandalwood (Santalum album) EO, 10%, in SDA-40B
- 2mL Australian Sandalwood (Santalum spicatum) EO, 10% in SDA-40B
- 2mL Patchouli Essential Oil (Light), 10%, in SDA-40B
- 2mL Vetiver Essential Oil, 10%, in SDA-40B
- 2mL Iso E Super, 10%, in SDA-40B
SUGGESTED RAW MATERIAL SUPPLIERS:
RECOMMENDED READING LIST:
Some students have asked me for recommendations for books on perfumery. I have compiled a short list of some of my favorite perfumery books. This is not required reading for class; I’m just sharing resources with you if you desire them.
Introductory Books:
Perfume: The Alchemy of Scent by Jean-Claude Ellena
Perfume & Flavor Materials of Natural Origin by Steffen Arctander
Nose Dive: A Field Guide to the World’s Smells by Harold McGee
Fragrant: The Secret Life of Scent by Mandy Aftel
Advanced Reading:
An Introduction To Perfumery by Tony Curtis & David Williams
Scent and Chemistry: The Molecular World Of Odors by Günther Ohlaff, Wilhelm Pickenhagen, Philip Kraft, Jean-Claude Ellena