Cast a spell & design a scent with Bermuda Perfumery

Starting November 26, 2013, The Bermuda Perfumery will, for the first time, host instructional workshops to teach fragrance lovers the art of customizing their own perfume. 

Master perfumer Isabelle Ramsay-Brackstone will teach The Art of Perfumery Workshop Tuesday and Thursday afternoons, at historic Stewart Hall in St. George’s, where she creates scents for the Lili Bermuda fragrance line. 

The Bermuda Perfumery has always been open to visitors and tours, but this is the first time personalized instruction is on offer. 

“I see this as an excellent way to celebrate our 85th anniversary in the fragrance business,” said Mrs. Ramsay-Brackstone. “We’ve learned a tremendous amount about fragrance over those decades and it’s exciting to share that knowledge with people who love the romance of scent as much as we do.” 

In 2012, famed CBS Travel Editor Peter Greenberg named The Bermuda Perfumery the best place in the world to buy perfume in his book The Best Places for Everything: The Ultimate Insider’s Guide to the Greatest Experiences Around the World. 

The four hours of instruction from 1pm to 5pm will cover the history of perfume from Ancient Greece to contemporary Madison Avenue. The olfactory pyramid, natural oils and aroma molecules are also on the syllabus. The Bermuda Perfumery will provide equipment including an apron and scale, as well as five formula trials for each participant before guiding them through the process of creating a 50 ml finished product. 

The seminars will be intimate – no more than five people at a time – and interactive.

Mrs. Ramsay-Brackstone said: “We have this internationally-recognized couture perfume house that is open to everyone and we want people here in Bermuda to feel a proud connection with it. 

“If there’s a perfume lover on your Christmas list, this will make an exceptional gift.” 

Appointments must be made in advance by calling The Bermuda Perfumery on 441.293.0627. The fee for the workshop is $275. The workshops will be offered for a limited time only.