Spices & Senses: The Perfume of the Kitchen (in person)

If scent is memory and flavor is emotion, then spice is pure seduction.

Welcome to Spices & Senses, where we explore the perfume of the kitchen — those tiny, potent miracles that have shaped history, sparked trade routes, and transformed humble ingredients into sacred rituals.

From the spice routes of Venice to the perfumed kitchens of the Renaissance, these rare ingredients once defined luxury, medicine, and devotion. There’s a special kind of magic that happens when flowers, food, and fragrance come together — a sensual intersection where taste and scent blur: Every meal becomes an act of alchemy.

In this workshop, you’ll learn to taste, evaluate, and blend aromatic spices that awaken every sense and bring beauty to the table. Together, we’ll rediscover those magical spices — not as relics of the past, but as living tools of creativity and pleasure.

This is not your grandmother’s spice rack. It’s an olfactory adventure through the ancient world of spice and aromatic oils; a hands-on, fragrant experience where perfume meets cuisine, and scent becomes edible art. This is where perfume hits the plate!

Led by The Aromatic Gourmet — chef, natural perfumer, and sensory storyteller Jeffrey Paul Ames — this immersive workshop reveals how to unlock, preserve, and blend the volatile aromas that define both perfume and gastronomy. Together, we’ll grind, blend, and infuse spices into luxurious herb oils that sing with flavor and fragrance.

Join us!

• The Perfume of Spice – Trace the path of spices from temple to apothecary to the fine art of cuisine.
• Herb Oil Alchemy – Learn to create fragrant, shelf-stable infusions that transform any dish into an experience.
• Scent-to-Taste Techniques – Train your nose and palate to identify aromatic notes and blend like a luxurious perfume.
• Hands-On Creation – Roll up your sleeves! Craft your own custom spice blend and infused herb oil to take home.
• Aromatic Awareness – Heighten your sensory intelligence by experiencing food the way a perfumer smells a fragrance.

We will work with what is in season at the moment — each ingredient revealing its own aromatic soul.

You’ll leave not only with your creations but with the confidence to think like a perfumer in the kitchen — intuitively balancing aroma, texture, and taste.

This isn’t just a cooking class. It’s a scent journey through the spice routes of history — and a reminder that perfume doesn’t belong only on skin.

About Your instructor:

Jeffrey Paul Ames — also known as The Aromatic Gourmet — blends gastronomy, perfumery, and beauty into one multisensory art form. His workshops turn kitchens into laboratories of scent, taste, and storytelling.

Important Notes

Space and Arrival Time:

Space is limited to 12 students. Please arrive fifteen minutes before class starts. We start promptly on time.

Materials

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

Includes: Take-home spice blend + herb oil blend.

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 and food 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 the commercial best practices and safety in your region, please consult the relevant authorities in your country of residence.

Photo: Saskia Wilson-Brown, for The Institute for Art and Olfaction.

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Host or Publisher The Institute for Art and Olfaction