Four olfactory workshops at the Château de Tarascon

During the spring holidays, I had the pleasure of conducting four perfume workshops at the Château de Tarascon.

The castle staff was interested in workshops inspired by their botanical garden and the magnificent apothecary of the former Tarascon hospital now on display in the castle.

This series of four workshops was designed for a wide variety of audiences, from young children from 6 years old accompanied by an adult to teenagers. All enjoyed creating their own perfume inspired by medicinal, culinary and ornamental plants present in medieval gardens.

They had ten ingredients available for the creation of their perfume. First of all, ornamental plants such as rose and violet. Then medicinal plants such as rosemary, sweet fennel and mint. The latter was used to relieve stomach aches.

As for culinary plants, I suggested carrots, or rather carrot seeds, which are widely used in perfumery and which smell of cooked carrots, among other things. Then also strawberries. In the Middle Ages, the leaves of strawberry were used in decoction to treat wounds and cracks.

I completed this list with ingredients contained in the Theriac of Montpellier, a miracle potion curing all ills in the Middle Ages, such as cinnamon, ginger and sandalwood, thus giving a nod to the apothecary.

I first prepared the room with all the necessary tools.

When the participants arrived, we first went to the botanical garden and the apothecary, guided by Marion Jeux, the castle's mediator.

Back in the workshop room, I briefly presented my practice combining photography and perfumery.

Then, getting to the heart of the matter, I presented, one by one, the ten ingredients made available to them by spraying each of them on smelling strips. After a moment of interaction, they wrote down their feelings about the ingredients on their formulation sheet.

Once the ten ingredients were smelt and evaluated, it was time for the composition. I recommended them to use a maximum of 5 materials so as not to overcomplicate their formula. I guided each group, answered their doubts and questions.

Once the first formula was written down on the sheet, it was time to start counting the 50 drops of the formula in a small bottle using the dropper bottles placed in front of each group.

I smelt the first trial with each group, asked them what they thought, and advised them on changes to make for the second, then third trials.

Once the weighings were completed, each participant selected its preferred trial I weighed with my precision scale in a 15ml bottle that they took away as a souvenir of the workshop.

It is always a great pleasure to share my passion for the profession of perfumer, and even more in a historical setting.