Perfumery Training: Training, Long-Distance Education, Textbooks - Why No Availability?

I was wanting to know the same thing but you beat me to it lol

I'm writing a book on the subject of perfume making for the serious amateur/self-taught perfumer so I think I can help. Please let me get back to you soon with more leads, I am very busy and not much time to post here (also cos this forum keeps crashing on me regularly grrrrr)
There are ways I can assure you

I cannot add anything very helpful to your noble search, but just wanted to point out that this is some of perfumery's charm, from a certain perspective. It is a field in which illusion is piled on illusion, often recalling the secrecy not of chemists, whose science is complicated but open to all who wish to learn that strange language, but of alchemists. I read an interview with Maria Candida Gentile recently - the only Grasse-trained female master perfumer in the last 30 years - and thought this remark of hers telling in this vein: "There I was trained and followed by a very special tutor Carole André. I worked with him in his laboratory 'Iris consulting' and he taught me so many things… the little secrets that masters only give when they decide you can be one of them... I will remember forever his very beautiful training on the 'sillage' of the roses."

Perhaps perfumery is ripe for some manner of 'revolution', if a master ever went truly rogue and disclosed everything they knew. But I dare say that self-interest keeps them rather cagey, preferring keep the finer points of their art and science enigmatic. And as for DYI types like Ava Luxe, I suppose they have often learned their lore the hard way, making it more valuable to them, and, if trying to make a profit, don't care for competition. These are obviously just idle impressions. (I have a little insight into the secrecy of crafts, being a professional bookbinder. There are so many little details that craftspeople keep to themselves. Frustrating but quaint at the same time.)

On the other hand, I have observed some truly generous, knowledgeable types on the DYI forum, particularly Chris Bartlett.

Basically you first need to ask yourself this:

1) What kind of perfume would I like to make? (all natural, from scratch, using pre-made blends like soap/candles fragrance oils, using aromachemicals etc.)

2) How much time and money do I have? (professional aromatic materials are expensive and learning to make perfume takes time and perseverance)

3) Do I want to learn it all by myself (self-taught) or do I want to follow a study? If you chose for a study again: would it have to be a short workshop, an in-depth education, a 1 year course, long distance or in person etc. (with different options come different price tags)

4) Do I want to know how fragrance works from a chemical point of view or is my interest merely artistic?

5) Is my goal selling my creations? If the answer is yes, than your location and regulations will dictate further specialisation.

There are many ways that lead to Rome.

Here are some ideas.

You could start by reading the DIY section of this forum, beginning with the stickies. Now and in the past, many forumites have contributed to many different areas.

If you want more basic information try this site (also a supplier of many aromatic materials and starters kits)
http://www.perfumersapprentice.com/perfumersworkshop/

You can follow a long distance course in Thailand
http://perfumersworld.com/

Or in the UK:
http://www.ifeat.org/

For workshops you can take a look at
http://fr.cinquiemesens.com/
http://www.cotswold-perfumery.co.uk/index7.html
http://www.essentially-me.co.uk/products.php?cat=25

Or 1 year in France
http://www.prodarom.com/anglais/gip/...=ecole_gip.php
although they also do ‘seminars’
http://www.prodarom.com/anglais/gip/actu_gip.php

If the all natural is more your thing you can enroll here
http://www.naturalperfumeacademy.com/
Or through the Natural Perfumers Guild
http://naturalperfumers.com/
Or you can begin a local aromatherapy course. Not much help for blending, but it’s a nice start to olfactory training.

If you really have a passion for knowledge and time to read, this is the best resource ever:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/perfumemaking
They have a files section with loads of formula’s, tips and tricks, articles, book reviews, book sharing, fragrance chemistry, you name it. It's one of the few places where classically taught perfumers & fragrance chemists contribute actively and for free!
It has started with this blog:
http://perfumemaking.blogspot.com/

If you’re looking for text books for professional perfumers, you will need some background knowledge first of organic chemistry, otherwise they are tough to read.

Introduction to Perfumery by Tony Curtis and David G Williams, 2nd edition

The Chemistry of Fragrances: From Perfumer to Consumer, 2nd edition by Charles S
Sell

The Chemistry of Essential Oils by David G. Williams, 2nd edition

Understanding Fragrance Chemistry by Charles Sell

Perfumery: Techniques in Evolution by Arcadi Boix Camps

Perfume and Flavour Chemicals Vols 1 and 2, by Steffen Arctander

Perfume and Flavor materials of Natural Origin by Steffen Arctander

Perfumery. Practice and Principles by Robert Calkin and J.Stephan Jellinek.

hth

I've been looking at this for myself too. As a mum, obviously my time is curtailed, but Plymouth offer one. I have been wondering about it but of course it costs plenty to do it. http://www.icatsaromaeducation.com/

Oops, sorry, Irena has already posted that.

You're most welcome!

I would say in your case begin with
http://www.perfumersapprentice.com/perfumersworkshop/
then you can eventually purchase a starters kit (or taking a look and see if it would be less expensive to get some of the ingredients cheaper elsewhere )

Then join the
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/perfumemaking

and start reading, chose 1 formula you like and play with it.

With spare cash buy samples of new materials and train your nose (I smell every day different ingredients, just for olfactory training).
There are a lot of 'lists' available on this forum and the yahoo group with starting blocks (natural & synthetic) when it comes to blending for newbies.

Unfortunately there is no such thing as a complete comprehensive guide for the creative amateur-perfumer willing to use a wide pallet of aromatics. That's why I'm working hard on writing it

The fragrance chemistry begins to make sense for most people after 6 months or so of reading about the most basic organic compounds used in perfume making:
alcohols
esters
aldehydes
ketones
nitriles
terpenes

You can google the heck out of those or add 'perfume' or 'aroma' or 'fragrance' and that will take you a long way.

Ths is my first post, joined this evening as compelled by this topic. I'm a Perfumer and trainer, and very passionate about spreading understanding about perfumer, perfumery and our sense of smell.

There are some great resources listed here. It's tricky to provide really good accessible and affordable perfumery training. I know there's a demand and have been trying for the last 4 years to make perfumery training more available. (www.perfume-training.com and www.orchadia.org)

It's just so fascinating! I've trained hundreds of people and found most people can smell amazingly well, provide great insightful comments and know much more than than they realise, they just rarely get an opportuntity to explore perfume in a meaningful way.

The Perfumery topic is vast, I don't think it's too complicated, but there's just so much of it. And, different products, regions, applications and individuals have different requirements - so it's hard to write a 'manual' about how to do it. So, for me, it's about creating understanding which means people's knowledge can grow more easily, building on the basics, and being there when there's a query.

I've not stopped learning yet, and hope I never do.

Best wishes to anyone wanting to learn more about perfume and smell

I've always taught about this. Lots of great info here thanks guys

Thanks for all the info guys. There are many training course just to aid learning and for fun...

but...

Which of these courses aside from Plymouth (whom I know do) and the French perfumery training academies, offer a 'real' certificate recognised by the trade as an exam which is a 'proper' qualification. Although to have studied the the others may prove great willing and interest in a perfumery student, are any of them valid in the trade for a proper job?