They call it the “Perfumery Studio Experience” — and with good reason. Renowned for their unique luxury scents, Aqua D’ Keys Fragrance Boutique, has recently launched a series of daily “Perfume-Making” seminars in Key West.
Local perfume guru and Aqua D’ Keys owner, Maurizio Nardi, shares his trade secrets for creating fresh, hand-crafted scents for women and men who want to exude their own signature style.
And believe me, after learning to create your own personal scent here, you’ll never smell fragrances the same way again. These fun, hands-on classes kick off with a glass of “bubbly” (this is Key West, after all!) and a complimentary perfume sample from the Aqua D’ Keys proprietary fragrance collection.
And then it’s showtime as Maurizio lines up his carefully curated collection of over thirty different fragrance oils for you to explore. (BTW: Did you know that perfumes are built in layers, and combining these layers is essential to creating a beautiful and complex scent?)
Once you’ve chosen your favorite combination, the magic starts to unfold.
Using special test strips dipped in your chosen oils (one for the Base, one for the Heart, and one for the Top notes), your layered fragrance “recipe” quickly blossoms.
No worries if your initial combination is not up to snuff. During the 1.5 – 2 hour class, you’ll have two more opportunities to get it just right. Adding more notes, experimenting with different layer combinations, and discovering the complexity of these interactions is pretty amazing and a whole lot of fun. After three experiments, you’ll have the opportunity to select your favorite layered combination and assemble your final fragrance. And then, Voilà — you’re own personal perfume is born.
And get this: Not only do you get to name your creation, but Maurizio will even label your bottle and present it to you in a lush black velvet bag. No doubt that you’ll be dying to dab some on right away, but be patient: your new signature scent needs to cure for about a week before you can fully enjoy it.
As locals, we really had a great time with our friend Maurizio at the “Perfumery Studio Experience.” It’s truly an unforgettable “Scent-i-mental Journey” and a great place to take your friends or celebrate a special event.
The daily classes take place three times per day at Aqua D’ Keys Perfumery Studio which is inside the Shops at Mallory Square, 291 Front Street. (FYI: must be at least 16 years old to participate). Info and reservations: 305-676-5620; aquadkeys.com.
Put this one on your “Bucket List!”
— Pamela Childs
