Creating Colognes Class: Fresh, Citrus, Unisex Scents ONLINE MARCH 27-28, 2021

Please note this is an online Intermediate level botanical perfumery class. This class assumes a level of prior perfumery knowledge obtained by either taking a previous perfumery class with Charna or by studying with another natural perfumer.

 Intermediate level class

Did you know the term "eau de cologne" originally referred to a citrus scent? Most assume the term cologne refers to a scent marketed for men, but the true definition of a cologne is a light scent, typically formulated with fresh citrus notes at approximately 5% essence concentration.  Popularized over 100 years ago, colognes are still popular and universally easy to wear a century later.  Natural essences lend themselves perfectly to creating bright sophisticated colognes but the challenge lies in longevity and fixation of these volatile essences.  In this two day botanical perfumery class, we will learn how to create beautiful natural colognes redolent of citrus, petitgrain, flowers, woods and herbs with perfumer Charna Ethier.  

If you love clean, fresh or citrus forward scents this is a class for you.  It is particularly challenging to create all natural citrus based colognes and consequently we will focus on balancing these fleeting essences through our formulas. This is a formulation heavy class and much of class time will be spent with hands on composing of colognes. Fixation and sillage of cologne composition is integral and we will discover methods of fixing volatile aromas.  

Registered students will receive a kit of essences to use in formulating our eau de colognes, syllabus and access to the live zoom class which runs from 11:00 am - 5:00 pm EST Saturday March 27th, 2021 and 11:00 am - 2:00 pm EST Sunday March 28th, 2021.  Included in the price of this class are the following materials which will be mailed to students prior to the class date:

16 qty. botanical essences in 2.75 ml. vials

• bergamot 
  
• mimosa
• bitter orange
• red mandarin
• vetiver
• patchouli
• rose 50%
• cedrat
• black pepper
• frankincense
• sandalwood
• neroli 50%
• fir balsam 25%
  
• ylang ylang/lily
• petitgrain
• tomato leaf

2.75 ml. vegetable glycerin

4 qty. labeled wide mouth vials for storing fragrance mods.

18 plastic pipettes

24 scent strips

1 scent strip holder

The retail value of these materials is approximately $200.00 and is included in the price of the class.

This two day workshop will cover:

-eau fraiche formulation

-historical formulation and usage 

-cologne formulation

-raw materials

-photosensitivity of citrus oils

-distillation methods and usage (i.e. why a CO2 distillation of black pepper may be more desirable in a particular formula.)

-variations on the cologne style of perfumery

-distinguishing characteristics of essences

-writing formulas

-fixation of volatile citrus accords

-dilutions

-storage and preservation of volatile oils

-distinguishing characteristics of materials

Attendees will focus on four distinct styles of cologne formulation: the CLASSIC cologne, the CITRUS forward fragrance composition, the GREEN/FRESH Cologne and the FLORAL forward Cologne.  

Session 1: Students will begin by creating a simplistic cologne skeleton with a limited number of essences for the first exercise.  They will then create their own versions of a CLASSIC and CITRUS style of cologne.

Session 2: Focus on formulating two distinct styles of cologne: the GREEN fragrance composition and the FLORAL fragrance composition.  Students will create their own versions of both styles of colognes.  Upon completion of class, students will decide which one of their fragrance formulations they would like to receive feedback on by sending their formula to the perfumer who will recreate their fragrance, age and evaluate the composition.  The student will then receive emailed feedback from Charna on their chosen composition.

Please note all classes are non refundable and non transferable. Students must have access to perfumers alcohol and a small (20-50 ml.) beaker as these are the only materials needed for class that are not provided.  Students must have access to wifi and a free zoom account to participate in class.