Perfume-making in Renaissance Florence is weirdly fun. In an ancient, atmospheric workshop, you learn how scents are chosen and blended, then you finish by creating a fragrance that’s yours alone.

I especially love that you get to take home a 30 ml custom bottle, not just a memory. I also like the hands-on feel of working with a kit of essences while your guide keeps things clear and practical.

One possible drawback: timing is tight (about 1.5 hours), and you’ll want to arrive on time at Via Ghibellina so you don’t miss the start.

You’ll start off in a real old-school setting, the Antica Spezieria Erboristeria San Simone, where the shop blends into an artisanal laboratory vibe. The class is framed with Florence’s perfumery roots—herbs, flowers, fruits, and the idea that scent can link to medicine and healing.

Just keep an eye on any document requests before your date, because there’s at least one reported situation where a passport photocopy was asked for after booking.

Key highlights you’ll care about

• Historic apothecary setting: You’re welcomed into Antica Spezieria Erboristeria San Simone and its artisanal lab space
• Your custom scent, not a sample: You create a unique perfume and receive a 30 ml bottle to take home
• Small-group format: Maximum 30 travelers means you’re not lost in the crowd
• English small group tour: Guidance is provided in English throughout the workshop
• Florence perfumery context: Learn the Florence angle, including figures like Catherine de Medici and René le Florentine

Step inside Florence’s apothecary world on Via Ghibellina

Florence has a way of making ordinary things feel like part of the Renaissance. This workshop is staged in an old, atmospheric space where the “perfume story” isn’t just marketing—it’s built into the room you’re standing in. You’re welcomed into the Antica Spezieria Erboristeria San Simone, with its artisanal laboratory feel and the classic apothecary atmosphere.

The vibe matters because it changes what you pay attention to. Instead of just tasting a concept, you’re watching (and then doing) how a perfumer approaches scent. Expect a mix of traditional lore and practical blending: herbs, flowers, and fruits are part of the ingredients story, and the class connects that to the medicinal side of historical apothecaries.

Also, the workshop is centered right in Florence. The meeting point is Via Ghibellina, 190, 50122 Firenze FI, and the activity ends back at that same spot. That keeps things simple for your day plan—you’re not crisscrossing the city while your nose is trying to remember what you smelled 20 minutes ago.

Antica Spezieria Erboristeria San Simone: the setting that makes the class click

You don’t just show up to a classroom. You enter a working-feeling shop and artisanal lab environment. That matters for two reasons.

First, it makes the learning more memorable. When you see ampules, rare glassware, and precious essences in a period-style setting, your brain treats the workshop like a craft rather than a souvenir factory.

Second, it keeps the class grounded in something real: this is presented as the kind of work historically tied to apothecaries and perfumers.

In the first part of the experience, you’ll get an introduction to the history of perfumery in Florence. The story includes the legacy of figures like Catherine de Medici and René le Florentine, which gives you a cultural framework while you’re about to start blending.

If you like context, this is a good fit. If you just want the hands-on part, you’ll still get what you came for—you’ll be walked through how fragrance is constructed and then guided into making your own blend.

The core experience: how you go from essences to a custom perfume

The workshop’s heart is straightforward: you create a custom fragrance. No guesswork required, and you’re not left alone at a counter with a mystery bottle.

Here’s what the experience is set up to do:

• You start with guidance on selecting and blending scent ingredients.
• You work from a kit of essences, with your master perfumer and English-speaking guide supporting the process.
• You finish with a personalized result that you can take home.

The class is led by a master perfumer, and the workshop is designed like a guided studio session. You’ll hear about the art of perfume-making, which is presented as both craft and science—choosing notes, balancing them, and thinking about how different ingredients play together.

And then comes the fun part: you make your custom perfume. Your end result is not just a small dabble. You receive a 30 ml bottle of the personalized fragrance after the workshop. That size is meaningful. It’s enough to actually wear, gift, and experiment with, which is exactly what makes the price feel fair.

Practical tip: plan for your senses. If you’ve been eating heavily spiced food or wearing strong perfume yourself, you might find it harder to notice subtle differences. I’d keep your day low-key scent-wise before class so your blend choices feel clearer.

What you learn about Florence perfumery (and why it’s useful)

This isn’t just history as trivia. The workshop ties the Florence perfumery tradition to the ingredients you’ll actually be working with.

You’ll hear about the world of alchemists and apothecaries—people historically linking plants and natural materials with healing and wellbeing. The story emphasizes herbs, flowers, and fruits, and frames perfume-making as an art built on ingredient understanding. You also get that Renaissance-style context, as if you’ve stepped into a workshop where smell is treated like something worth studying.

Why that matters for you: when you know what kind of ingredients are being used and how they relate to scent structure, you can make better personal choices. Even if you don’t think of yourself as a fragrance person, you’ll leave with a clearer idea of how you like your scents—lighter and fresh, deeper and warmer, or somewhere in between.

Also, the setting helps you connect the dots. Learning about rare glassware and precious essences in the room where you’re blending keeps the experience cohesive. It’s not a lecture that floats away from reality.

Small-group reality: the pace, attention, and time limit

This is a small group tour in English with a maximum of 30 travelers. That ceiling isn’t tiny, but it’s also not a mass workshop where you’re stuck waiting your turn for every step.

The class runs about 1 hour 30 minutes. That’s a good length for most people because it’s long enough to feel hands-on, but short enough that it won’t swallow your entire day. The downside is also obvious: there isn’t time for endless experimentation. You’ll likely make one main blend rather than multiple versions.

What you should do to get the best experience: be ready to focus once you sit down. Keep your questions tight and relevant. If you like the idea of going back for a second bottle in a different style, you can sometimes do that with other purchases afterward—but in this format, the goal is to craft your single custom fragrance and walk out with it.

Price and value: $29 is what you’re buying, not just the number

At $29, this feels like a solid value for a city like Florence. You’re paying for a guided, English-speaking workshop, a custom perfume-making session using a kit of essences, and then the actual product: a 30 ml bottle made from your chosen blend.

What makes it good value is that it’s not only education. You get a finished take-home item. If you’ve ever bought souvenirs that end up in a drawer, this is closer to a practical purchase: you can wear it.

Also, the location is central. Since hotel pickup and transportation aren’t included, you’ll want to build it into your existing walking or transit plans. But being able to meet directly at Via Ghibellina and end back there means fewer logistics for you.

Who should book this Florence perfume workshop

This workshop is a strong match if you:

• like hands-on creative activities more than passive sightseeing
• want a memorable take-home item that’s personal
• enjoy learning how products are made, even when the science is light and the craft is emphasized
• want something that works well in a short travel window (about 1.5 hours)

It may be less ideal if you:

• need a slow, unhurried pace
• prefer a purely historical museum style experience with lots of time for reading and wandering
• are extremely sensitive to fragrance and want a very low-scent environment (the workshop is fragrance-focused, by nature)

A quick note on a potential hiccup: passport document requests

Everything here is built for an easy, enjoyable class day—but one reported booking situation involved a request for an actual photocopy of passports after booking, which led to cancellations for that group. I can’t say that’s routine, because it isn’t stated in the standard details you’re given.

Still, it’s smart to be prepared: before your date, confirm what documents (if any) they might request. If you’re traveling with a passport copy, it can save stress.

Should you book this perfume-making workshop in Florence?

If you want a creative Florence experience that ends with something you can actually use, I think this is worth booking. The workshop format hits a sweet spot: historic atmosphere, English guidance, and a real custom take-home bottle in about 90 minutes.

Book it if you’d enjoy blending scent notes, learning the Florence perfumery context, and wearing something made from your own choices. Consider a different option if your schedule is fragile, you need a longer session to experiment, or you’re not comfortable with fragrance-focused spaces.

In short: it’s a small, structured, hands-on workshop that turns curiosity about perfume into a personal souvenir you’ll likely use.

FAQ

How long is the perfume-making workshop?

It lasts about 1 hour 30 minutes.

Where does the workshop take place?

The experience starts at Via Ghibellina, 190, 50122 Firenze FI, Italy.

What is included in the price?

You get a small group tour in English, entry to Antica Spezieria Erboristeria San Simone and its artisanal laboratory, an introduction to the history of perfumery in Florence, help creating your custom perfume from a kit of essences, and a 30 ml bottle of your personalized fragrance.

Do I take my perfume home?

Yes. You receive a 30 ml bottle of your custom-made perfume at the end.

Is the tour in English?

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

How big is the group?

The workshop has a maximum of 30 travelers.

Is hotel pickup included?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included.

Do I need a printer for anything since it says mobile ticket?

The tour uses a mobile ticket.

Can most travelers participate?

Most travelers can participate.

What happens if I cancel?

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.

Where does the experience end?

It ends back at the meeting point on Via Ghibellina.