Some of you probably have a huge stash of perfume collection on display, personally I like to keep it to one or two. Besides not having the need to use it on a daily basis, I prefer having the same fragrance on my body that is impressionable. But perfumes bought off-the-shelf are probably used by thousands of others. If you prefer carrying an unique scent, Maison 21G allows you to create a perfume that encapsulates your personality and stand out from the rest.
I had the chance to attend a Perfume Making workshop at Maison 21G to curate a bespoke perfume (30ml) from my favourite scents, and it has been a really interesting experience. Even if you are a complete beginner and clueless about fragrances, you’ll be completely guided throughout the entire process. Trust your smell and instinct, and that’s all you need.
About Maison 21G
Their meaningful brand name is derived from ‘home’ in French; and 21g stands for 21 grams which is the weight of the soul when people passed away (by Duncan McDougall), and therefore their tagline ‘The Scent Of Your Soul’. Coincidentally, their perfumes also has a perfume concentrate of 21%, which is the highest concentration compared to any other perfume brands, resulting in a longer-lasting scent.
With a focus on environmental sustainability, the perfumes are created with natural essential oil blends which are preservative-free, cruelty-free and vegan, and are suitable for those with sensitive skin and nose.
If you’re thinking the usual ‘workshop tables and benches’, nope! You get to customise your ideal perfume in this luxurious and beautiful boutique with neutral accents and greenery. Not forgetting how nice-smelling this place is with their room spray.
To understand the basics of perfumery, we’re given a short introduction on the structure of a perfume – Top, Middle and Base notes. The top notes are the immediate smell and first impression we get from the fragrance; middle notes also known as the ‘heart notes’ emerges just as the top notes dissipates; and base notes has the longest-lasting impression, also fitted to be called the soul of fragrance.
Before we begin with the most exciting part of the perfume-making, we are tasked to identify our scent personality by doing an online quiz. While the quiz results does not fully entails what scent category you should belong to, it does give you a rough idea if you have no idea where to start from.
My quiz result is The Extraordinary, which comes with suggestions of perfume combinations for day and night use. Amanda, the brand manager who is also an expert in Perfumery, picked out some scents that she felt was suitable based on my profile and preferences which I have shared. I just had one simple job to do, sniff the various samples and put them into 3 categories – yes, maybe and no.
After a while, the different types of scent may cause some confusion and it is recommended to go take a breath of fresh air to ‘clear your nose’. After a couple of tries, I manage to eliminate some scents and narrow down to a few fragrances that I love – Muguet, Rose, Jasmine and Honey. (I really do have a soft spot for floral scents!) Honey came to my surprise as I don’t fancy the taste, but guess I love the smell?
When I was sniffing the different scents, Amanda told me not to look at the name of the essential oil, as it could affect my bias. So just don’t overthink and choose what you like!
Amanda provided her professional expertise in curating the exact weight of each essential oil blend to create a perfume that is uniquely me. And I have to mix the scents together according to her formula by dripping the essential oil into my customised bottle engraved with my name.
I took a whiff of my creation and I fell in love with the fragrance. It was light, floral and feminine without being too overwhelming. The honey scent blended really well with the floral notes due to its subtle sweetness.
The thing about DIY workshops… If you worry that the scent is not luxurious to match up with your usual branded perfumes, you’re totally wrong. The essential oil blends are made of premium quality and the final concoction is comparable to the luxury brands bought off shelves, just a tad more unique of course.
I am going to keep the ‘secret formula’ of my unique curation so that I can purchase a refill bottle in future.
This interactive bespoke perfume-making experience was beyond meaningful, which gave us a deeper understanding behind the art of perfumery. It has made me more inclined to spraying perfume on myself before I leave the house too! This workshop is not only suitable for perfume lovers, but also a fun activity for couples, hen’s party and bonding opportunity with friends. Psst. Mother’s Day is coming and it’s definitely a perfect gifting idea (& for other occasions too!)
Quote monice to enjoy 21% off all perfume workshops and 15% off all products online!
Thank you Maison 21G for the invitation!
