THE VIRTUAL COURSE
Meet the aromatic botanicals that have allured & enchanted humans across the ages ~ Rose, Sandalwood, Myrrh and so many more. Learn how to weave them into harmonious tapestries of wearable scent with powerful healing benefits.
Botanical Perfumery | Virtual Course
Explore the enchanting world of botanical aromatics and learn how to craft your own perfume! This self-paced virtual workshop covers everything you need to know about working with nature's precious materials to make beautifully scented oil-based perfumes.
This is Botanical Perfumery taught through the eyes (& nose) of an herbalist & artisan perfumer. Learn about the healing benefits of plant aromas, and how to weave them together for unique & beautiful results. The course exclusively covers plant ingredients for designing natural perfume oils, with an approach that fosters creative discovery & play.
The course includes over a dozen 5-10 minute video lessons, plus downloadable notes, optional quizzes and a Community Forum for Q&A. Course enrollment is unlimited, meaning you will continue to have access for as long as we are able to offer it. This includes all future content updates & additions.
To access the class after purchasing, login to our site, scroll down on your account page, and click on the workshop to enter. The Community Forum for Q&A can also be found on this page and is linked inside the class. You will receive an official welcome email within 48 hours of signing up, as well as periodic emails to notify of any major updates.
Upon purchase, you will receive immediate access to all content. Click on Course Login under Courses + Kits in the main menu and log in (or create an account if you don't already have one). From here, you'll see all of our courses and be able to click into any you've enrolled in.
We offer a curated artisan Botanical Perfumery Kit to accompany the course once or twice per year. This kit includes all necessary supplies for crafting your own perfumes plus 15 botanical scents from the herbalist's personal collection of essential oils, resins & absolutes. See more details on kit contents below.
Course enrollees get first access to our limited batches of kits. To receive an email when kits are available for purchase, click on Course + Kit under Option above and then Notify Me.
Get $20 off when you buy any 2 of our self paced virtual courses, or $30 off all 3! No code needed ~ discount will be applied at checkout.
WORKSHOP LESSONS
Aromatic Extracts
Discover all the various ways that plant scents can be extracted and the methods that produce them. We will discuss essential oils, absolutes, resinoids, supercritical CO2 extractions & enfleurage.
Safety, Sourcing & Storing
Gain an understanding of how to use the different types of extracts safely and in proper dilution. Get insight on how to distinguish between real botanical oils and knockoffs. See our list of reputable suppliers so you know exactly where to go to create your perfume apothecary. And then learn about shelf life & proper storage so your extracts last as long as possible!
Botanical Palette
Meet 30+ botanicals and their extracts, grouped by aroma category. Each ingredient profile includes information about the plant & its origin, extraction methods, price & aroma as well as the unique properties & healing benefits.
A sampling of our palette includes:
FLORAL: Rose, Pikake, Ylang Ylang
CITRUS: Bergamot, Lemongrass, Lime
EARTHY: Vetiver, Patchouli, Labdanum
GOURMAND: Vanilla, Cacao, Benzoin
Carrier Oils
Learn about the different types of base oils you can use to make your perfumes safe for the skin, and how to properly dilute aromatic materials.
Scent Harmonies & Formulation
How do you build an aromatic blend? We'll discuss scent harmonies (or pairings) so you have a foundation for layering aromas. Then I'll walk you step-by-step through creating a perfume from start to finish and adding base oils to dilute it properly.
HIGH PRAISE FOR THE PERFUMERY COURSE
“I loved this course as a follow up from the herbal infusions course. Not only does it offer step by step guidance on how to interpret the confusing world of essential oils, it also offers a comprehensive supplier list of where to buy reputable products and an exciting pathway to formulating your own recipes. I'm so excited to carry this knowledge forward!"
“The information provided in the self paced course is so well laid out and easy to follow. I so appreciate the small, bite sized modules to easily process all the thorough information a little at a time. If you're looking to enter the world of botanical perfumery, this is truly the place to begin!"
“Such a beautiful, detailed, and thoroughly enjoyable course! Thank you so much Deanna xo"
“I really enjoyed the course & making products of my own, it has opened up a whole new world of learning for me."
WHAT'S INCLUDED
12+ video modules
Each section contains a 5-10 minute video lesson that covers a specific topic in depth.
Printable Notes
Downloadable PDF handouts for each section include all notes from the slides, so you can easily access to class content.
Perfume Recipes
We'll go over how to make custom perfumes, and you'll also receive printable recipe cards for some of our most-loved perfume formulations.
Detailed Sourcing Guide
Easily compare prices from reputable suppliers with our actively maintained Sourcing Guide. This spreadsheet contains a range of botanical aromatics, pricing, and links to purchase directly.
Optional Quizzes
Test your knowledge with quick quizzes at the end of each module. Don't stress ~ you can take them over again as many times as you want (or skip them if quizzes aren't your thing).
Community Forum for Q&A
Post any questions & feedback regarding the class content on a virtual Q&A board open to everyone who takes the class, and get responses from the herbalist! You are also encouraged to share recipes you've tried, relevant research, and questions for others who are currently enrolled in the workshop.
Unlimited Access
Access all of the above directly through our website by logging in to your account. Your enrollment will automatically be designated as 'unlimited' to include all future course additions & updates.
ABOUT THE
HERBALIST
This workshop is taught by Deanna Rose Ahigian, L.Ac & Dipl.OM, founder of Indigo Elixirs and clinical herbalist. Deanna has spent the past 15+ years immersed in the study & practice of botanical formulation, advanced herbal medicine, and holistic wellness. Botanical Perfumery was her earliest inception into herbalism, and has remained one of her deepest passions. She has taught in person botanical perfumery workshops on O'ahu for over a decade and loves watching the creativity of students unfold while engaged in this ancient & immersive art.
THE PERFUMERY KIT
Enthrall your senses as you learn through experience. Our thoughtfully curated Perfumery Kit is complete with all the necessary ingredients & supplies you need to start your aromatic alchemy journey. Purchase the optional kit with the virtual course to receive everything needed to make your own beautiful essences at home.
the perfumery kit includes:
- Botanical Perfumery workbook, a 12 page guide to get you started, printed on 100% recycled paper and sewn in house
- Perfumery Palette with 15 x 1ml or 2ml botanical aromatic extracts in glass vials with droppers (plus an empty vial for you to add another scent) encased in a metal tin with clear window & organic cotton drawstring bag for safe keeping
- 1 oz glass bottle of Hawai'i grown virgin Macadamia oil
- 1 oz glass bottle of Hawai'i grown virgin Sunflower oil
- 3 x 5ml glass vials with glass rollers & caps for your perfume blends + blank labels
- 10ml beaker for blending
- Glass vial with 10 x wooden mixers + 30 x paper scent strips
Note that while only 3 vials for finished perfumes are provided, you will have ample materials to make many more creations with the materials provided! As always, our creations ship plastic-free with minimal excess packaging.
INSIDE THE KIT:
THE PERFUMERY PALETTE
The following mesmerizing aromas have been selected for the beginning perfumer based on their ability to appeal to a wide variety of personal tastes and versatility in playing well together. This palette includes some of the cornerstone fragrances of classic botanical perfumery plus more unique essences that are easy to fall in love with. Note that if a scent is not for you, it likely is for someone else in your life!
All extracts are purely botanical in nature ~ no fragrances, synthetics or isolates here. They were purchased from reputable US suppliers and the countries of origin are denoted below. Each aromatic comes in glass vial with either 2ml (ºorganic) or 1ml (*starred) of extract.
1. PIKAKE | *absolute | India | Jasminum sambac
2. JASMINE | *absolute | India | Jasminum grandiflorum
3. ROSE | *absolute | Morocco | Rosa x damascena
4. LAVENDER | ºessential oil | Netherlands | Lavandula angustifolia
5. YLANG YLANG | essential oil | Madagascar | Cananga odorata
6. BERGAMOT | ºessential oil | Italy | Citrus bergamia
7. LIME ºessential oil | Sri Lanka | Citrus aurantiifolium
8. CARDAMOM | ºessential oil | India| Elletaria cardamomum
9. LABDANUM | resinoid | Spain | Cistus ladanifer
10. BENZOIN | resin | India | Styrax benzoin
11. MYRRH | resin | India | Commophora myrrha
12. SANDALWOOD | *essential oil | Australia | Santalum spicatum
13. PATCHOULI | ºessential oil | Indonesia | Pogostemon cablin
14. VETIVER | essential oil | Indonesia | Chrysopogon zizanioides
15. CEDARWOOD | essential oil | USA | Cedrus virginiana
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Who is this class for?
This class is for anyone interested in the eternal world of botanical perfumery. Whether you already make your own blends at home or are completely new to the subject, you will find value in this class! It is especially designed for those interested in learning to work with pure plant extracts to create oil based perfumes.
Are there any requirements?
All class materials need to be accessed online through our website, so a stable internet connection is required.
No previous knowledge or experience is required, just a curiosity and desire to learn about some of the most wonderful botanical aromatics on earth.
How long will the class take to complete?
If completed in one sitting, all lessons will take under two hours to watch ~ but each is designed to be a digestible 5-10 minute module for easy learning. This class is self-paced, which means you can complete it on your own time, and there are no specific completion requirements.
What if I have questions about the class?
You are encouraged to post any questions regarding the content of the workshop in the Community Forum. For technical or logistical issues, please email us at team@indigoelixirs.com.
What if the Perfumery Kit is out of stock?
The virtual course is a standalone learning experience that provides everything you need to start sourcing high quality materials and making your own perfumes at home. While the kit allows for easier & faster DIY, it is in no way required to get the most out of the course.
With that said, enrolled students get first access to our limited batch of kits ~ so if you want to get your hands on one, signing up for the course will give you first dibs as soon as they're available!