Natural Perfume Making Class: from Plant to Perfume

Use Australian botanicals and traditional scents to make your own perfume in the Byron Bay Hinterland!



3 hours

Class size 1 to 12 (public classes), 1 to 40

  $140 - $145 ($140 for Senior; $145 for Person. $100 per class surcharge applies for private classes) (Afterpay available)

Join us for a unique, hands-on class in Dalwood, the Byron/Ballina hinterland, where you will experience the whole perfume making process!
You'll first start with a stroll through our sensory fragrant gardens, before distilling a botanical for a hydrosol room spray/body spritz and curating your very own signature scent as a parfum solide using Australian botanicals and many other traditional oils, or a spray perfume using sugarcane alcohol or an oil based roll on using the highest grade natural perfume ingredients.
Suitable for beginners, our experienced instructor, Dr. Julie, will provide step-by-step instructions and tips to help you unleash your creativity to curate scents that take you to 'your happy place'.
You will be introduced to the principles of aromatherapy so that you can apply these when crafting your perfumes to improve wellbeing, mood and more.
You will have access to more than 30 natural Australian botanicals, such as lemon myrtle, Rosalina, Fragonia, Buddha wood, Australian Sandalwood, and many from the local area, such as Byron Bay rose, pineapple myrtle and blue cypress to add to your sensory repertoire when creating your bespoke perfumes.
With an additional 100 natural oils, absolutes and isolates available in our studio, we'll explore the fragrance families from fresh, floral and fruity to spicy, earthy, woody and more. You will be spoilt for choice of group favourites and niche scents such as ylang ylang, rose, lily, fig, vanilla, oud, rosemary, patchouli, pink pepper, and ginger, to name a few.
Throughout the class, you will learn the secrets of scent layering to achieve well-balanced fragrances that suit your individual preferences.
By the end of the class, you will take home a perfume and hydrosol room spray/body spritz, as well as new skills to create more artisan perfumes and fragrances in the future!
Get in touch with us at Scent if you have a special request such a as a birthday party, hens, business team building event, etc. so we can create something 'sensory' special for your group. A minimum of 3 participants in private classes is required.

Upcoming dates for Natural Perfume Making Class: from Plant to Perfume

Times are Sydney time. Dates and prices as of 3 Oct 2026, 11:40pm; availability and price are confirmed live when booking on this page.

2 upcoming dates between 24 Oct 2026 and 7 Nov 2026.

  • Sat 24 Oct 2026, 1:30pm-4:30pm
  • Sat 7 Nov 2026, 1pm-4pm
What you'll get
You will go home with both a hydrosol room spray/body spritz and natural perfume using either beeswax or calendula wax (vegan) and jojoba oil as a base for a solid perfume, or a natural sugarcane based alcohol spray perfume or an oil based roll on perfume.
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Knowledge required
Beginner-friendly. No knowledge or skill required, just a nose! If you are pregnant or breastfeeding you will be provided with materials suited to your needs. Please advise at the time of booking. This class is not suitable for babies.
What to bring
You should not wear perfume or scent on the day as it can interfere with the creative nose.
Class is not suitable for babies. Pregnant and breastfeeding mum's will be provided with materials suitable to their needs.
Please bring closed-toe shoes and even better, gum boots! But if don't have any, we have some that will fit.
Don't have a car. We have relationships with drivers so get in touch if you don't have any wheels. Or simply hire a car and enjoy a hinterland day out to Bangalow and the Eltham Pub for instance.
Suitable for

This class is great for individuals and couples as well as for a date idea, team building activity, Christmas party, birthday or hens party.

Suitable for adults, and kids (minimum 13 years old).

An adult must accompany any attending kids, and must pay for a separate ticket.

This experience would also be a fun gift for her, gift for mum, Xmas gift or gift for couples.

Location

Dalwood, NSW

Exact location is masked for privacy. You'll automatically get the specific address after booking.

Natural Perfume Making Class: from Plant to Perfume location
Verified reviews

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Recent reviews of Natural Perfume Making Class: from Plant to Perfume

  • 5/5 from Jodi Quinlivan, attended Sep 2026: From the moment I arrived at Rosewood Estate, I was surrounded by beautiful landscapes & bouquets of scents that instantly inspired. Class began in the most charming little shed, The Tinkerbell, the setting was simply perfect for our natural perfume-making experience. Julie is so friendly knowledgeable & made everyone feel instantly welcome. I had the joy of creating my very own signature floral fragrance, aptly named ’Flowers’, with Julie’s assistance, of course. It was such a delightful and memorable day, filled with creativity, beautiful scents and a lovely touch of country. An experience I would wholeheartedly recommend to anyone!
  • 5/5 from Anna Lampe, attended Sep 2026: I absolutely loved this class yesterday. Julie is an excellent presenter and passed on so much interesting information including the science of smell and the complexities of perfume making. The beautiful garden tour, creating our own personal perfumes plus the convivial company and afternoon tea made this an wonderful experiemce. Can thoroughly recommend.
  • 5/5 from Einat Bilitzki, attended Sep 2026: When my wife suggested we take a natural perfume making class, I reluctantly said “sure.” Well, I am really glad I did — what a great afternoon it turned out to be! Julie is such a passionate teacher, and her vibrant, engaging personality shone through as she led our group around her amazing property, sharing the story of the various plants in her garden and the role each one plays in the world of natural perfumery. The rest of the afternoon was spent around the table with a great bunch of people, learning and concocting our own scented creations, which we then bottled up and took home. I can’t recommend this class enough — amazing setting, wonderful learning, and an even more wonderful host. Big thanks, Julie! Lance J
  • 5/5 from Justine Goddard, attended Aug 2026: Wow! What a wonderful experience - this class far exceeded my expectations of what I would learn and make. I absolutely love the scent I developed (with a bit of help from Julie:)). Rosewood Estate is so beautiful and the tour of the garden smelling plants I was both familiar with and had never smelled before was a highlight for me. I have a new favourite with the lemon scented tea tree I think! Julie is a wonderful teacher who shares her knowledge and passion of scent making in a way that is easy to understand, fun and leaves you feeling as if you have gained some real knowledge and a deeper respect for the art of perfumery, even if wearing perfume isn't typically your thing. I think this is the kind of class that all ages and both sexes would really enjoy. I look forward to bringing friends and family to enjoy this experience. Thanks so much Julie for a great experience!
  • 5/5 from Anita Wicks, attended Aug 2026: My son and I did the perfume making course and we thoroughly enjoyed it. There was so much information and we learnt a lot and we left with our signature scent and some beautiful lemon Myrtle spray which was distilled that afternoon. We were welcomed warmly and would highly recommend anyone who is wanting to spend a relaxing afternoon with a great teacher learning about essential oils and botanicals.
  • 5/5 from Colleen Crawford, attended Jun 2026: We had the most wonderful afternoon with Julie creating our signature scents. We learned so much in our time and really appreciated the fantastic set up and organisation that Julie has created to ensure a value packed and fun experience. Highly recommended.
  • 5/5 from Alison Curran, attended Jun 2026: A beautiful way to spend an afternoon. Particularly lovely to share with my daughter and the other delightful participants. Julie is extremely knowledgeable and so generous with her time and perfumes.
  • 5/5 from Bee Whiddett, attended May 2026: I can highly recommend Julie's perfume workshop as it was so informative & engaging. Her energy & enthusiasm was infectious. I loved learning about the science & history behind perfume & when it came to mixing our own blend, the vast quantity of oils to choose from was impressive. Best of all, I now have a unique fragrance that I enjoy wearing & a lasting memory of how I created it.
  • 5/5 from Maria Younger, attended May 2026: An unforgettable, soul‑nourishing experience I absolutely loved this natural perfume‑making class. It’s so much more than a workshop — it’s a full sensory journey from plant to perfume. The space feels calm and beautifully curated, and the whole experience is hands‑on, thoughtful, and inspiring. Every step — from the sensory walk through the gardens, where we experienced the scents delivered by nature, to the distilling of botanicals and finally blending my own perfume — was guided by Julie with grace, passion and decades of knowledge. The highlight was crafting my own signature scent using high‑quality natural essences. The materials were stunning — rich woods, bright citrus, delicate florals — and the guidance helped me create something truly personal in a way that felt accessible and creative rather than technical or overwhelming. I walked away with a perfume I adore, a deeper appreciation for natural perfumery, and a huge sense of creative joy. Whether you’re into scent, nature, wellness, or simply want a beautiful experience, this class is an absolute must. I’d give it more than five stars if I could.
  • 5/5 from Michele Redden, attended Mar 2026: This was so much fun and so interesting!
  • 5/5 from Lucia Martinez, attended Feb 2026: Julie’s natural perfumery class was pure magic — a warm, sensory journey I’ll never forget. She is incredibly generous with her knowledge, sharing what she knows with such openness and care that you immediately feel welcomed and inspired. The setting is just as special: Julie’s garden is breathtaking, with a beautiful view stretching out over the valley. Being there felt like a gentle massage for the senses — surrounded by living botanicals, fresh air, and quiet beauty. And then the oils… Julie’s collection and the way she guides you through them is truly mind-blowing. Each scent feels like a story, and by the end you’re not only learning — you’re completely inspired. I left with a fuller heart, a more curious nose, and deep gratitude for the experience.
  • 5/5 from Magdalena Blanc, attended Feb 2026: This class was an absolute highlight! Julie welcomed us into her garden full of native and other beautiful plants, walked us through the distilling process, and then guided us step by step in creating our own spray perfume. She provided plenty of materials, clear guidance, and a super relaxed vibe — plus we were treated to her own tea blend and a delicious lemon cake, which was the perfect touch. Informative, hands-on, and genuinely fun. Highly recommended!
  • 5/5 from Rosie Dingle-Mosa, attended Dec 2025: Such a beautiful location, such a knowlegable and friendly instructor who loves what she does - she made it super easy to understand but also suitable to someonw with some knowledge or intereste in scent blending. She had soooo many amazing and unique essential oils to use! Would be so lovely for a group activity/day event or pre-wedding event. I love the perfume and hydrosol I got to make and take home, gorgeous bottles as well!
  • 5/5 from Kit Sivyer, attended Nov 2025: A fantastic course in lovely scenery. It was a birthday present for my partner and Julie made a birthday cake at the lesson. I was really happy with the perfume I made (we're both beginners) and would heartily recommend this to anyone who is interested in perfume making.
  • 5/5 from Giuseppe Cavaliere, attended Nov 2025: Was such a wonderful day and a awesome host!
  • 5/5 from Nina Tropina, attended Sep 2025: Julie was fantastic! She took us on a comprehensive tour of her garden, explaining how all the different plants and trees get used for perfumery, and talked about the theory of creating a lasting fragrance. The information was interesting, the experience was fun, and Julie is a great host and a warm, interesting person. We absolutely loved this workshop!
  • 5/5 from Mohamed Adefatiu, attended Aug 2025: Whether you're just dabbling in perfumery or are a serious hobbyist, the class offers a perfect opportunity to explore the stories behind great scents and experience the thrill of creating your own using natural ingredients. It was my first time learning about perfume-making, and I knew nothing about lavender, citrus, petrichor, or rosewood. By the end, I was able to situate many scents on the scent wheel and craft a unique composition that paired beautifully.
  • 5/5 from Celeste Hartmann, attended Aug 2025: We had a fantastic experience. Julie is so generous with her knowledge and her beautiful garden and home. Very keen to go back again soon. Highly recommended for everyone as it’s all so interesting and oh the smells Delicious cake and tea. An all round beautiful way to spend an afternoon.
  • 5/5 from Rosanne Usher, attended Jun 2025: Best class ever great tour of the herbal garden before we made our own personalized fragrance.
  • 5/5 from Karen Kelley, attended Jun 2025: I absolutely loved Julie’s class. She has so much know to share, the garden tour was very interesting learning about so many different plants and their scents. Learning about plant oil distillation was a highlight! And of course having the opportunity to create my own scent was fabulous. I can highly recommend this class, such a wonderful afternoon.
  • 5/5 from Mimi Rasmussen, attended May 2025: We absolutely loved our natural perfume making experience! It exceeded our expectations!! We enjoyed the garden tour, learning lots about all the plants and then we sat down and had full creative freedom in making our dream scent! What fun!! Thank you so much Julie!
  • 5/5 from Kerri Grassby, attended Apr 2025: What an absolute treat this workshop was. Our very talented Scent specialist, Julie was so lovely! She was incredibly knowledgeable and we all felt like we not only managed to curate our own scents to take home but feel inspired to continue purfume making! We went as family, 18yrs to 80yrs and everyone had the best afternoon. The delicious home made lemon cake topped off the day! Thanks again Julie x
  • 5/5 from Sarah Hargraves, attended Apr 2025: Savannah and I had a fantastic time. Julie was so knowledgeable and welcoming! Will definitely be back!!
  • 5/5 from Liz Edwards, attended Apr 2025: Thanks to Julie for my wonderful experience of her flower and garden scentory tour, explaining the plants and fragrances. In her homely home she had set up tiny bottles of essential oils, and petals in various stages of her kitchen had transformed into a small alchemy lab. This is where Julie made her perfumes. Julie’s perfumes weren’t just scents. They were memories, emotions, and dreams, all distilled in tiny vials born in the warmth of her home. A must visit when you want a wonderful experience of creating perfumes for yourself. Thanks Julie
  • 5/5 from Hilma Codling, attended Apr 2025: I recently attended an incredible perfume-making class, and it was truly a sensory journey like no other. The experience began with a peaceful and enlightening walk around fragrant gardens, where we immersed ourselves in the beauty and smells of various plants. The walk was a fantastic introduction, as we learned to truly appreciate the subtleties of different fragrances from nature. The highlight of the class was the distillation of lemon-scented tea tree, which we then used to create a refreshing body and face spritz. Watching the distillation process up close was fascinating, and it gave me a deep appreciation for the craftsmanship behind perfume making. The spritz we created turned out beautifully, leaving my skin feeling fresh and invigorated. The grand finale of the class was designing our very own natural signature perfume. With expert guidance, we blended essential oils to craft a fragrance that was uniquely ours. The process was not only creative but also therapeutic, as we experimented with different notes to find a scent that resonated with us. Overall, the class was a perfect blend of education, relaxation, and creativity. I left feeling inspired and empowered with the knowledge of natural perfumery and a signature scent I absolutely love. Highly recommend it to anyone with an interest in fragrance, nature, or simply looking for a unique, hands-on experience!
  • 5/5 from Susan Gardiner, attended Feb 2025: Great fun! Julie is so passionate and knowledgeable about perfume. It really is 'from plants to perfume' -we had a tour of her garden, helped her distill lemon myrtle leaves, made our own perfume based on individual preferences and received a lemon myrtle spritz too. A very generous host - we enjoyed homemade cake and herbal tea too! Just a note - best accessibility is if you have a car.
  • 5/5 from Emma Tibbey, attended Jan 2025: Such a lovely, enriching, and fun class!! We really enjoyed learning all about perfume making, and more about native australian plants and scents. Julie was a wonderful teacher with so much insight, and the most beautiful property / garden :)
  • 5/5 from Sharon Grellman, attended Jan 2025: Fabulous and very interesting. Amazing to make our own individual blends. Julie’s knowledge was outstanding, encouraging us to personalise our perfumes.
  • 5/5 from Jane Parsons, attended Jan 2025: A very fun session, that was so informative and we left with amazing personalised goodies. I enjoyed the class immensely and Julie was an awesome host.
  • 5/5 from Arquita Daley, attended Sep 2024: I really enjoyed learning about perfumes and creating my own solid perfume in the company of friends and family. I love that the host, Julie, used only essential oils, and I found the garden tour especially interesting, where we learned how different plants contribute to various scents. I really enjoyed being part of the process of distilling thyme in a copper distiller with everyone, which added a special touch of love and care to making a room spritzer.
  • 5/5 from Louise Goggin, attended Sep 2024: Thanks Julie for a great class! I learned a lot and enjoyed crafting a solid perfume that I love from your dizzying range of essential oils. A well-organised and structured class with a super knowledgeable teacher. The lemon cake was delicious too!
  • 5/5 from Jill Perkins, attended Sep 2024: A wonderful introduction to a new world of natural Australian botanicals. This workshop far exceeded my expectations. Not only did Julie provide us with a leisurely walk and sensory experience of different scents around her garden but educated us in the art of perfumery. Each of our lovely group walked away with new knowledge and our own signature perfume made with guidance from our wonderful tutor. I highly recommend and would love to do this again.
  • 5/5 from Helen Spencer, attended Sep 2024: My Plant to Perfume class was very enjoyable. Julie was a very good teacher & having the opportunity to walk around Andrew’s & her garden was a bonus. Seeing how the still works was interesting also. A fascinating experience with friends. Thank you Julie. I love my perfume. Helen
  • 5/5 from Del Strong, attended Sep 2024: A celebration of friendship. Our host Julie was a fabulous tutor. She was most generous and gracious with her skills and knowledge. The venue was extremely picturesque. Our walk in her garden was a showcase for many of the plants we learnt about. Very good value. It's difficult to chose a favourite thing. It was all so enjoyable. Being a novice learning about the properties of the plants and becoming familiar with the various oils and their combinations.
  • 5/5 from Julie McLaren, attended Sep 2024: I really didn't know what to expect but I had the best time. Julie was so enthuastic and knowledgeable about perfume, even distilling her own pure essential oils. The workshop was very interesting and fun. We all made our own perfume. Ideal for a group of friends. I'll definitely do this again.
  • 5/5 from Jenny Willemse, attended Sep 2024: Julie conducted this workshop at her home located in the lovely rural surrounds of Dalwood. I especially enjoyed the leisurely garden walk which was very informative. Julie is very knowledgeable in this topic and provided education in a relaxed, friendly style. It was great becoming familiar with numerous essential oils and formulating our own personal Parfum solide. I thoroughly enjoyed the morning. Woops, forgot to mention the lovely morning tea.
  • 5/5 from Robin Doherty, attended Sep 2024: Our class was run by lovely host Julie. A great way to spend a lovely afternoon with friends making perfume. You leave with your own uniquely designed perfume. Mine had the scent of the Australian bush.
Your teacher

Scent
Scent

5.0 (63)
female Women-owned

Picture this: a crowded hotel lift at an international women’s event in the 1980s. I step in and I am hit by a wall of perfume. Not just any perfume. Poison on steroids. There’s barely enough oxygen left to think. One woman chirps, “It smells nice in here.” I quip, “Must be the one man!” You see, it was the ’80s—big hair, big shoulder pads, and even bigger perfume.
From that moment on, I decided if I was going to be surrounded by scent, I wanted it to be natural. So I started making my own perfumes, blends that whispered, not shouted. Inspired by nature, by the Aussie bush, bouquets of fresh-cut flowers, salt spray on a summer breeze, and the distinctive aromas of new places when travelling.
Today, I have a vast personal scent library, an ever-growing collection of natural aromatic ingredients. From Australia: blue cypress, rosewood, Fragonia, Kunzea, lemon-scented tea tree, Rosalina, pineapple myrtle and the rare Byron Bay rose. From afar: Nepalese tulip, Indonesian jasmine, Laotian vetiver, Indian rose, Italian petitgrain… and that’s just scratching the surface.
My training includes 2 Master Perfumers’ courses with internationally renowned perfumery house, Perfumer's World, and a class in natural perfumery with Karen Gilbert from the UK. While I specialise in naturals, I also understand synthetics and mixed media because knowing the science helps sharpen the artistry. With daily blending and exploration, I’ve refined my skills in the craft (and joy) of creating perfumes that are alive with nature’s story.
At Rosewood Estate, my farm in northern NSW, and in my studio in Miami on the Gold Coast, I run classes in natural perfumery, wellness balms, and tea blending. At the farm, guests can also join me for a sensory garden walk meeting fragrant plants face-to-leaf, and even doing a full distillation of botanicals like lemon myrtle, rosemary, and more using traditional copper stills. I trained in distillation under the legendary Jill Mulvaney of Alembics New Zealand, deepening my connection to scent at its source.
Drawing on my background in perfumery and aromatics, I help students explore how taste and aroma intertwine in the art of tea. I hold a Diploma of Tea Blending from renowned tea company, Australian Tea Masters, under the tutelage of Sharyn Johnson. I specialise in creating natural, botanically inspired blends that tell a story of place and season. My approach is grounded in curiosity, creativity, and connection, inviting others to slow down, sip mindfully, and discover the beauty of nature in every cup.
My work is grounded in the belief that scent isn’t just beautiful, it’s transformative. With over 30 years of experience as a psychological counsellor and educator, I’ve used scent as a sensory anchor to help people shift emotion, perspective, and behaviour. Like Mary Poppins, I pull from a diverse bag of tricks, blending science, nature, and emotional insight to help others feel more connected to themselves, to others, and to the world around them.
One day, I hope to write the perfume equivalent of a cookbook something rich with recipes, stories, and the kind of inspiration that invites others to play, explore, and fall in love with the alchemy of scent.

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