Perfumery Courses

We have been making world-renowned perfumes for over 50 years and this is our opportunity to share our expert knowledge and skills with you when you attend one of our very popular CPD accredited perfumery courses.

Our highly qualified Chief Perfumer John Stephen presents our courses so you couldn’t have a better tutor. John, the owner of the Cotswold Perfumery, has acquired an enviable reputation for creating high-end, bespoke fragrances for a portfolio of customers including Her Majesty the Queen.

Our perfume making courses and workshops run throughout the year in a dedicated teaching room/laboratory here at the Cotswold Perfumery in the beautiful village of Bourton-on-the-Water. As well as learning the skills involved in developing and making your own perfume (to take home with you), you’ll get a unique insight into the life and work of John, one of only six independent perfumers in the UK.

You can look on-line and you can listen on-line but you can’t breathe on-line

This is one of the reasons why The Cotswold Perfumery Ltd doesn’t offer on-line perfume making courses! Read more here.

It’s impossible to elicit the sensation of smell without an actual aroma being inhaled. Face-to-face perfume making training is essential for clarity, engagement, and most of all – so that your nose can be involved! As past participants concur, our perfume making courses are enjoyable and effective and also a joyous escape from the Internet. What's more they take place in the beautiful Cotswolds.

To book your place on our perfume training workshops simply select your course option, check availability and register today. See you very soon. Your fragrance is in the air!

Covid-19 Precautions and Care

In order to do our very best to ensure that course attendees are safe when attending our courses we have reduced the numbers to allow for separation. We currently allow for seven attendees and we will continue to review this but so far having fewer attendees has been successful. The smaller class sizes mean that the course presenters can dedicate more time to questions from individual attendees adding extra value and making the courses feel more bespoke.

We have also put additional measures into place regarding cleanliness and hygiene standards including frequent cleaning of objects and surfaces that are touched.

Perfume Making - Level One Course

Learn about the art and science of scent and make your own perfume - Suitable for absolute beginners or as a top-up refresher course.

View details & course dates

Perfume Making - Advanced Five Day Course

If you wish to make perfume for others or set up your own business in perfumery, this is the course for you. Our Chief Perfumer John Stephen will share his expert knowledge with you and teach you the principles of making commercially viable perfumes.

View details & course dates

Perfume Making - Advanced Four Day Course

If you have previously attended our Level One beginners course and wish to make perfume for others or set up your own business in perfumery, this is the course for you. Our Chief Perfumer John Stephen will share his expert knowledge with you and teach you the principles of making commercially viable perfumes.

View details & course dates

Perfume Making - Advanced Four Day Course

Course Dates

Below are the courses that we deliver with dates and how you can book

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Lab Days

Hands-on Perfume Fragrance Making Training. If you’ve completed our beginners’ perfumery course, or the advanced five day perfume course, our Cotswold Perfumery Lab Days are your chance to put your new skills into practice, in our fully equipped fragrance laboratory.

View details & course dates

Extremely helpful. A must for everyone in fragrance industry

Nasir A

I thoroughly enjoyed all aspects of the course. It was really interesting, informative and enjoyable. John’s presentation style is friendly, entertaining and helpful. Just perfect

Jools

I was fascinated by everything that we were taught and by doing the practical parts. I could have listened to John for such a long time. He had so much knowledge to share.

Lianne

The whole day was so informative on so many levels – it was wonderful. I would definitely recommend the course. Thank you for a really super day!

Libby

I heard about the course when I visited the Cotswold Perfumery shop in Bourton-on-the-Water. It was excellent. John’s enthusiasm for his subject made the course. If only he had been my chemistry teacher, I might have learnt something at school!

Jane

It was an inspirational day thanks to John's teaching style and enthusiasm. It has inspired me to continue my interest in making liquid soap and possibly doing the second course at some stage. It was good to have a small number of people on the course to enable people to ask questions. Thank you to John and the team for a wonderful day.

Annabelle S

The entire day was totally enjoyable. The group was a good mix, and John is a joy. I wouldn’t change anything – it was all marvellous. Thank you for a lovely, well put together day. Even the lunch was tremendous.

Julie

Fantastic! So much more than I expected. Thank you

C Wright

Best part of the course was how John delivered the material and executed and organised the course. Best bespoke perfumery course the UK has to offer.

Stefanie

A well organised, enjoyable day. Excellent presentation, support, humour and encouragement from John. His extensive knowledge and passion for the subject was evident throughout. Thank you.

Chris

Fantastic; so much more than I expected. Thank you :)

Clea W

Interesting day, would definitely recommend this to my friends

Rosemary D

John was extremely knowledgeable and a fun teacher! Making the perfume was great and the theory aspects were very interesting.

Samantha

The knowledge transfer from John was outstanding, easy to digest and so wide-ranging covering so many aspects of creating a perfume and beyond (multidisciplinary), an absolute masterclass and so enjoyable!

Alison

It was an inspirational day, thanks to John's teaching style and enthusiasm. It has inspired me to continue my interest in making liquid soap and to attend the second course. Thank you to John and the team for a wonderful day.

Annabelle

I heard about the course from my dad. I enjoyed all of it – the theory and the practical part, particularly testing and making the perfume. I thoroughly enjoyed the day, learnt lots and had fun. Lunch was very good, too!

Jack

It's great to to be inspired and informed by an obvious expert in their field. It generates a buzz of enthusiasm in the room.

Attendee September 2021

Fantastic/informative day. Would definitely do 2nd course

H Mitchell

John is a fantastic and engaging teacher, being with students that are also passionate and truly want to be there also adds to the experience!

Attendee July 2021

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ABOUT THE COTSWOLD PERFUMERY

Established in 1966, the Cotswold Perfumery specialises in creating fine fragrances for the niche market.

It’s something we’ve been doing for over 50 years.

We sell a range of unique fragrances from our shop in the beautiful Cotswold village of Bourton-on-the-Water, and from our online store on our main website.

Visit our main website

OUR ACCOMMODATION

Combine your course with a stay in one of our luxury 5 star self-catering apartments.

If you’re visiting Bourton-on-the-Water, why not stay in one of our luxury, five-star, self-catering apartments at the Cotswold Perfumery. Or try a luxury stay in nearby Cheltenham.

Visit our accommodation website