Istanbul Perfume Making Workshop with Bosphorus View

You leave with a 50ml bottle of perfume you mixed yourself, plus a recipe card to remake it at home.

A two-hour perfume-making workshop in Istanbul where you learn the craft from a professional perfumer, select from over 50 ingredients, and blend a custom fragrance. You'll name your creation, design its label, and take home the bottle you made along with a keepsake recipe card. Turkish tea and coffee are served while you work.

The Experience

You start by exploring how perfumes are built. The guide walks you through the process and the ingredients—over 50 of them, each with its own character. Then you move to the blending station and start choosing. You're not following a formula; you're picking the scents that speak to you and layering them into something that's yours alone. The guide helps you balance top, middle and base notes, but the decisions are yours.

While your custom blend is being prepared, you settle in with pomegranate tea or Turkish coffee and freshly made Turkish delights. This is when the conversation shifts. The guide talks about Istanbul—not the postcard version, but the neighborhoods locals actually move through, the spots that don't make the guidebook, the stories that shape how the city feels. You're learning the place while your fragrance takes form.

The final part is the one that makes it stick. You name your creation. You design a label for the 50ml glass bottle. You receive a recipe card printed with your exact blend so you can recreate it whenever you want. By the end, you're holding something you made with your hands—not a souvenir you bought, but a fragrance that carries both the craft and the memory of the afternoon.

What’s included

• Expert guidance from a professional perfumer.
• access to over 60 different perfume ingredients.
• a 50ml glass bottle with special lid and packaging.
• all blending tools, note cards, and labeling materials.
• a keepsake recipe card with your custom blend.
• Turkish tea or Turkish coffee.
• and freshly made Turkish delights.

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelers

Operated by Istanbul Experiences Workshops

Is this one for you?This workshop suits anyone who wants to leave Istanbul with something they made themselves rather than something they bought—a fragrance that carries both the craft you learned and the afternoon you spent there.

Traveler reviews

4.98★★★★★★★★★★

143 verified traveler reviews

5 ★140

4 ★3

3 ★0

2 ★0

1 ★0

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What's included in the perfume workshop in Istanbul?

The workshop includes expert guidance from a professional perfumer, access to over 60 different perfume ingredients, a 50ml glass bottle with a special lid, all blending tools and materials, Turkish tea or coffee, freshly made Turkish delights, and a keepsake recipe card so you can remake your fragrance later.

How long does the perfume-making workshop take?

The workshop runs for two hours, which covers learning the craft, selecting and blending your ingredients, enjoying refreshments while your scent is prepared, and designing your label.

Do I need any experience to make my own perfume?

No experience is necessary. The workshop is designed for anyone, and the guide walks you through each step of the blending process. You'll learn the basics of how perfumes are constructed and then apply that knowledge to create your own signature scent.

What languages does the guide speak?

The guide conducts the workshop in English or Turkish, depending on your preference.

Can I take my perfume home with me?

Yes. You take home the 50ml bottle of perfume you blended, along with a recipe card that shows your exact ingredient blend so you can recreate it anytime.

Is this workshop suitable for children?

The workshop is suitable for all fitness levels. Infants and small children can attend, and specialized infant seats are available. The experience is not recommended for pregnant travelers.