Open Sessions: Blending with Friends

Blending aromatic molecules together into a composed perfume is not only fun, but creative, challenging and - sometimes - kinda relaxing. We can't promise you that you'll make the next Chanel No. 5, but we can guarantee that you'll come away with a healthy respect for the art, science and skill it takes to make a good perfume. Come find out for yourself!

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Open Sessions are the IAO’s longest running program, and are designed precisely for beginners who learn best by diving in, intermediate perfumers who want to explore new materials, or advanced perfumers who want to be part of a diverse and creative community!

Relaxed and self-directed (don’t worry, we’re here to help), these informal sessions are a great chance to get your first experiences, or refine your blending techniques, using the IAO’s abundant organ.

After getting a brief introduction, you will be able to independently tinker with five materials of your choice in a casual, social setting. We have everything you need: Aromatic materials (natural, synthetic, and some accords), perfumer’s alcohol, beakers and droppers, scent strips and bottles… All you need to do is come with a notebook and a curious mind.

Our open sessions are fulfilling the IAO’s core mission to create public access to materials and learning around perfumery. In open sessions, we invite the public to experiment with scent in an unguided way, in our functional perfumery laboratory.

Down the rabbit hole you go!

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Take-Aways:

Participants will spend several hours blending with their selected materials, and leave with a sense of the basics of blending, their five materials (in ⅝ dram vials), and a small first trial in a spray vial.

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WHAT TO EXPECT

Upon first arrival, there is a short lab orientation session. Once that’s done, we invite you to spend some time smelling our curated materials organ. When you’ve decided which scents you’d like to work with, we’ll make your vials and set you up at a work station with your materials. You can take the vials home, of course, as well as anything you make during your session.

+ Although we have a 2.5 hour window in which to come and do your work, we recommend planning to be here for no longer than 2 hours. This is plenty of time; as beginners – often we are not accustomed to smelling this much. Simply put, our noses get tired. Please note also that this is a knowledge-share environment, not a formal class. What you learn, you will learn by experimentation, your peers, and - of course - some professional guidance.

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COSTS

Intro (first-timers) Session: $45.00 (Materials Included)

This includes the use of our labware, glassware, pipettes, scent strips, and your choice of five x vials of aromamolecules to work with. You can buy extra materials on site, at the prices below.

Returning Students: $15.00 + Materials A La Carte

Returning students simply pay a lab fee, and for any further materials they use. You can purchase as many – or as few – as you desire, and of course can also bring materials from home.

Materials (beyond what is included in the intro session fee) are available for purchase on site, in two sizes: 

+ 5/8 dram vial: $3.50

+ 1 dram vial: $5.00

We accept cash, paypal, Venmo and credit cards. If paying by cash, bring small bills.

Please note that whether or not you have attended before, 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. All levels are welcome, but our open sessions are 18 and up (or 14+, with adult supervision).

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LOCATION

Location: We are located in Los Angeles’ historic Chinatown neighborhood, on a pedestrian street that also hosts galleries, souvenir shops, production companies, design studios, and two very cool parrots. The IAO is wheelchair accessible.

Street Address:932 Chung King Road Los Angeles CA. 90012 (213) 616-1744 [email protected]

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

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CANCELLATION POLICY

- Cancellation with refund or credit requests made 2 weeks or more (14 days) before the scheduled session will be honored with gusto! We’ll miss you, but will 100% refund your spot, or give you credit for another class.

– Refunds or class credits requested less than 14 days before the scheduled sessipn: We will refund you 50% of your class fee. Why? Because we’ve already ordered the materials. – Refunds or class credits requested less than 48 hours before the class, on the day of the class or after the class has happened will not be granted. The exception to this, of course, is if you have been exposed to Covid-19, or are feeling symptoms yourself.

- Cancellations or refund requests must be made by email or via the Eventbrite 'request refund' option.

Note also that event tickets are non-transferable. Thank you for understanding!

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Host or Publisher The Institute for Art and Olfaction