Scents and Sensibility: Perfume Making Classes at Tijon
As millennials we are always joking about dissociating to survive the world we live in. If you’re anything like me then you probably have gotten to a point where you’re too good at it. Take it from me though, there are consequences that come along with disconnecting from yourself and your body. That’s why I’m currently on a journey to reconnect with my body. While it sounds daunting, I have been finding ways to do it that have been so fun.
Before I get into that, I’ll share the approach I’ve been taking, because I think you might find it fun too. When I decided I wanted to really connect with myself again I considered all the different ways I could go about doing it and leaned into the ways that didn’t feel heavy. For me, that meant tapping into my 5 senses. Sounds a bit elementary, but it allows for so much play. Play is the one thing I don’t think adults get to do much. Not in a childlike wonder sense anyway.
Think blowing bubbles and feeling the bubbles pop on your skin. Nostalgic right? Does it give you a feeling of safety like it does for me? Now before it sounds like I have it all together and had all of this planned out, let me share that I stumbled on this approach. In fact. I’d call it a happy surprise. For our 10th wedding anniversary my husband surprised me with a scent making class! Let me tell you all about it.
Making Fragrances with Tijon
We traveled to Charleston, SC to take our class at Tijon. I have passed by this place a million times and never knew this was an offering they had. My experience at Tijon was top tier! Tijon was founded in 2007 in St. Martin by John Berglund. You can find locations in Charleston, SC, Grand Case, St. Martin, and New Orleans, LA. My personal experience was so fun that I did a little research about what else they have to offer and found out that they do special events. If you’re looking for a unique experience for a fundraiser or corporate event fragrance making with Tijon will definitely make you stand out! Now let’s get into what fragrance making was really like.
The Experience
We visited Tijon on a cold day in Charleston. We had gotten snow the week before, but the sun was out and the snow was melting. When we entered, we were greeted by staff and taken to our seats. From there everything was explained and we were off to the races! Our perfumer Eliza was a wealth of knowledge and taught us about all the components of making a scent and the best methods for testing. Equipped with this new knowledge we were then guided into the second part of the experience which was about exploration. We had access to hundreds of scents and chose what was most interesting and alluring to us. From there came the really fun part – experimentation!
If you were a science girly as a kid, let me tell you this will bring back all the nostalgia! It was so fun experimenting with different smells. From there we got to create a signature scent (signature series – all about getting to know yourself). While we did these things we got to learn about the sense of smell and let me tell you I so surprised at what I didn’t know!
What I Loved about the Experience
What I loved the most about this experience was the welcoming environment! The team at Tijon were knowledgeable, engaging, sincere, and truly made everyone feel as if they were in fact expert perfumers (and cologners – shout out to my husband who happened to be the lone cologner in our class). They were able to foster an environment of fun and learning that I don’t think I’ve experienced anywhere else. I loved that it was a class that was about more than perfume, but about a major part of who all of us are – our sense of smell. Oh, and here’s a little secret – there are also some other fun happy surprises sprinkled throughout the class that I won’t spoil for you, but they made the class feel like a true luxury experience.
Fragrance 101: For Couples
Now let me share some recommendations for what class you may want to choose based on who you’re going with. Let’s say you want to go on a romantic date or have a day on the town with your best friend. If it’s 2-4 people involved, I would say the Fragrance 101 class would be ideal. In this class you’re getting access to all of the oils you can think of paired with education on scent making. It’s definitely the kind of experience that makes an impression. So, if you have a date, anniversary, or birthday coming up the Fragrance 101 class would be perfect for that type of occasion.
Mix & Match: For Groups
Let’s say you’re hosting a bachelorette weekend or have some occasion that will include 4-12 people. The Mix and Match class would be perfect. While we took our Fragrance 101 class there was a bridal party taking the Mix and Match class. It was perfect for them because they got lots of oil options, but not so many that it would be too overwhelming for the group. I definitely bookmarked it for an idea to do with a group of friends.
Fragrance In A Flash: Solo Drop In
Looking for a solo date idea, but don’t have much time to dedicate to it? Well, Tijon even has an offering that’s perfect for this. Their Fragrance in a Flash offering allows you to drop in when you’re a little short on time, but would still love a custom scent. With this option you have fewer oil selections available to you to build your fragrance, but believe me it’s for the best if you don’t have a lot of time to spare. This option keeps the overwhelm at bay allowing you to be in and out while still experiencing a little bit of customized luxury.
Would I go again? Absolutely! I went in thinking I’d just be making a fragrance. I left knowing so much about the sense of smell and how to use it to not only reconnect with my body, but elevate my mood. If you ever get the chance to visit Tijon and make a fragrance you should definitely do it! Bookmark this post as you build your list of activities you can use to reconnect with yourself.
