Perfume Blending in the Men's Department

Most of us pick a cologne off a shelf and never think about how it was put together. This class turns that around. At the Institute for Art and Olfaction, a small nonprofit in Chinatown devoted to creative work with scent, you spend a Sunday afternoon building one yourself. It is one of the more unusual things happening in Los Angeles this month, and a good fit for anyone curious about how smell works as an art form.

When: Sunday, November 8, 2026, 2:00 PM to 4:30 PM Where: The Institute for Art and Olfaction, 932 Chung King Rd, Los Angeles, CA 90012 Price: $241.94 Tickets: Eventbrite

What the class covers

Minetta Rogers introduces a three-part blending course built around the cologne and fougere styles, the families of fragrance traditionally sold in the men's department. Fougere is the classic barbershop accord: lavender, a green herbal lift, a woody base. The session is in person, so you will be smelling and mixing rather than watching a screen.

The Institute runs a series of hands-on scent-blending sessions, and its description of that series says you learn the principles of scent making and take home a small spray vial of your own creation. The listing for this particular date does not spell out what ships home with you, so check the Eventbrite page before you book if that matters to you.

Who it suits

No background in perfumery is implied. If you have ever wondered why one cologne reads as fresh and another as heavy, a class like this gives you the vocabulary. It also works as a gift or a date idea for someone who already likes fragrance and wants to understand it better. The ticket price is on the higher side for a single afternoon, which reflects a small, instructor-led format rather than a drop-in tasting.

Getting there

Chung King Road is a pedestrian lane in Chinatown, just off North Broadway, so parking is easiest in a nearby lot or garage. The Metro A Line stops at Chinatown station a short walk away. Give yourself a few extra minutes to find the entrance, since the lane is tucked between restaurants and galleries.

If you are scanning upcoming events in Los Angeles for a Sunday plan, pair the class with a late lunch in Chinatown afterward. Browse more arts and culture events or see what else is on in Downtown LA.

Tickets are sold through Eventbrite, and the Institute is the one to contact with questions about the session.