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Mon Nov 23 2026 at 05:30 pm to 08:00 pm UTC-08:00

Unconventional Perfume Blending: Old Books Accord (in person)

  • The Institute for Art and Olfaction · Los Angeles
  • From USD 124.56
The Institute for Art and Olfaction Publisher / Host The Institute for Art and Olfaction
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Unconventional Perfume Blending: Old Books Accord (in person)
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Join us in exploring the sensual world of old books and take home your own accords of worn pages and dustjackets.
About this Event

Gather, ye bibliophiles! Who hasn’t walked into a library with vaulted ceilings and inhaled the cozy, somewhat musty smell of old books? The nostalgia, the sweetness, the mysteries promised by the faded words on yellowed pages…

In “Unconventional Perfume Blending: Old Books,” led by instructor Julianne Lee, we’ll start by enjoying some perfumes from the IAO Collections that feature the note of old books. Next, we’ll smell a bevy of molecules and natural materials that evoke old books in their many forms: dusty, sweet, warm, woody, leathery, inky. We'll play with those materials and practice balancing a formula. Is your old book a pristine first-edition preserved in a collector’s sleeve, or a tome unearthed from an elven dwelling?

We recommend having at least one IAO class under your belt, but beginners are completely welcome. By the end of class, you’ll leave with your own formula for an old book accord in hand, along with a working understanding of accord-building that you can apply to any other fragrance notes.


Topics covered:

+ A breakdown of the scent of old books in the language of aromamolecules

+ An opportunity to smell perfumes from the IAO Collections that feature old books

+ Accord-creation: ratios, proportions, evaluation


Take-Aways:

+ Your own working formula of an old-book accord to take home

+ Small 5/8 dram vials of your experimental trials

+ A greater understanding of the nuances of the scent of old books

+ A foundational method for building accords

+ Hands-on experience with blending techniques


IMPORTANT NOTES

Materials: Materials are included in the sign-up cost, and provided by the IAO during class.

Attendance and Refund Policy: This is an in person class that will take place at the Institute for Art and Olfaction. Unfortunately, we cannot offer refunds or credit for this class. Note also that event tickets are non-transferable.

On Safety: Some aromatic materials can have side-effects when applied to skin. The information and teaching materials presented in our classes are for educational purposes only. These are not intended for commercial use and do not necessarily reflect commercial best practices or industry safety standards. For more information about commercial best practices and safety, consult the relevant authorities in your country of residence.


Event Photos

About the Instructor

Trained at the Grasse Institute for Perfumery, Julianne Lee started her journey with perfumery at the Institute for Art and Olfaction, and currently acts as the IAO’s Director of Projects. A practicing perfumer with an interest in contemporary culture, she draws from literature, art, and her deep knowledge of materials and technique to extend the creative potential for the field of perfumery.


Registration Required

Please note that you must reserve your space in advance. If you just show up without reserving a spot, there is no guarantee we will be able to accommodate you. Space at this event is limited. All levels are welcome, but this session is 18 and up (or 14+, with adult supervision).


Location

We are located in Los Angeles’ historic Chinatown neighborhood, on a pedestrian street.

Street Address: 932 Chung King Road Los Angeles CA. 90012

To find us: Chung King Road is a pedestrian-only road that runs parallel to Hill Street, between Hill St and Yale St. See more information here: http://artandolfaction.com/visit


Photo credits:
Image 1: Annie Spratt, www.unsplash.com; Image 2: Pierre Bamin, www.unsplash.com; Image 3: Indah Datau

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Event venue & nearby stays

The Institute for Art and Olfaction, 932 Chung King Rd, Los Angeles, United States

Tickets USD 124.56
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