Natural perfume courses teach students how to make perfume without using synthetic aromas. This is a specialized area of perfumery, since the majority of fragrances on the market have synthetically produced aromas. Courses concentrate on one of several themes involved in understanding and making perfumes, such as how to develop a sense of smell and how to memorize fragrances. Other classes may teach how to describe a perfume and determine what type of person it might appeal to as well as how to market it to the target consumer.
Finding a course in perfume can be as easy as visiting a local perfume shop. Many independent perfumers give a basic course on the history and fundamentals of perfume making, or you may study as an apprentice alongside a perfumer. Consider an independent study course that allows you to learn the art in the comfort of your home. Travel to the perfume capital of the world, Grasse, France, to learn techniques that perfumers have used for centuries. Prices range greatly depending on the length of the class and where it is taught. Prices can start under a hundred dollars and soar into the thousands.
With a perfume course, perfume enthusiasts, aromatherapists or people interested in making scents for business or personal use can expand their knowledge of fragrance blending. Some courses cater to employees in fragrance sales, consulting, marketing or product design who want to have an understanding of the perfume making process, industry regulations or perfume compositions.
Some basic perfume courses last two or three hours and feature a brief overview of the sense of smell, history of perfume, types of raw materials and elementary instruction on how to compose your own scent. In some cases, you will leave the class with a vial of the scent you created. However, the process of becoming a perfumer for some of the world leading fragrance houses involves up to 10 years of training courses and apprenticeships.