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Photo: Le Labo
Photo: Le Labo

Where to Create Custom Scents in LA for National Fragrance Day

By Danielle Directo-Meston
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Photo: Le Labo
By Danielle Directo-Meston

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Today is the first day of spring, and tomorrow just happens to be the National Fragrance Day. In honor of the the unofficial ode to the olfactory senses—a.k.a. the worst day ever for American allergy sufferers—we've sniffed out a few of LA's best spots for concocting your own signature scent that don't require you to soak your own florals or people.

From hand-labeled scents at Le Labo to bespoke blends made for burlesque beauties, see a few of our city's master fragrance mixers below. Looking for pre-bottled concoctions? Check out our best perfume shops here.

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1. Le Labo

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8385 West 3rd Street
Los Angeles, CA 90048
(323) 782-0411
(323) 782-0411
Visit Website
After you choose from the artisanal fragrance brand's 15 signature scents, a perfumer will concoct a brand new batch on the spot. (There's also the LA-inspired Musc 25, exclusively available at only the West Third Street and Abbot Kinney locations). If a personalized label and a freshly-made mix isn't enough, fragrance fiends can get a truly bespoke scent crafted from the indie perfumery's vegan ingredients—for a cool $40K. [Photo: Le Labo]

2. Persephenie

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155 West Washington Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90015
(323) 659-7507
(323) 659-7507
Visit Website
Persephenie's 3.5-hour, hands-on Intro to Perfumery Class ($400) teaches the basics of fragrance, like extraction methods, odor classification, and more. The class is tailored to students's individual needs and may delve into natural botanical perfumery, aromatherapy, mixed media perfume, and other topics. After working with a "variety of botanical single notes and some chords," students take home an ounce of their very own creation. [Photo: Persephenie Studio]

3. Scent Bar

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7405 Beverly Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90036
Visit Website
Okay, it's not exactly a mix-your-own perfume bar—but this emporium of indie scents is a must-stop for its stock of hard-to-find, cult-fave labels. It's organized by notes like light florals, leather, fruits, and more. [Photo: Scent Bar]

4. KleanSpa

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3319 W Magnolia Blvd
Burbank, CA 91505
Visit Website
Located eco-friendly boutique Mindful Nest, KleanSpa's master mixers make a party out of their hands-on classes with their bubbly-fueled blending bashes ($50). After enjoying a blind-smelling sesh from the bending bar and getting their palettes "collected," each student takes home a custom-made roll-on perfume. The fragrance "minions" (as they like to be called) can also whip up signature scents at your next soiree. Budding scent builders can also try a one-on-one class with a talented apprentice ($45) or with the "scentual mixtress" and owner herself, Jennifer Hardaway ($75). [Photo]

5. Opus Oils at Jitterbug Perfume Parlor

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1703 North Kenmore Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90027
(323) 667-3376
(323) 667-3376
Visit Website
This by-appointment, artisanal scent atelier is helmed by award-winning perfumer Kedra Hart, who helped develop The Apothecary at Barneys NY's Beverly Hills location. At her sensual speakeasy-inspired space, students can enjoy an olfactory adventure through the shop's house palette—think base notes used to create collections inspired by absinthe and burlesque beauties—in the Scents of Imagination class ($550). The process ends with a custom-made formula in a 1.7 atomizer bottle; there's also a mini version of the class for $250 and private one-on-one lessons for $500 to $950. [Photo: Opus Oils]

6. Sarah Horowitz Parfums

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850 Hampshire Road
Westlake Village, CA 91361
(805) 497-1901
(805) 497-1901
Visit Website
In addition to creating scents for big-name brands, perfumer Sarah Horowitz also crafts custom fragrances at her by-appointment apothecary in Westlake Village. A 45-minute sesh at the 100+ oil blending bar ($199) will result in a custom-made mini pure oil roll-on and a 1/2-ounce eau de parfum, while a one-on-one experience with Horowitz is $400. [Photo: Sarah Horowitz Parfums]

7. Bismillah Imports

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1170 East Colorado Boulevard
Pasadena, CA 91106
Visit Website
At this crowd-pleasing perfumery alternative, oil-mixing guru S.M. Farasat Ulcah will help you craft a personalized essential oil concoction from an array of exotic options. The Pasadena boutique also offers matching handmade moisturizers and natural skincare remedies. [Photo: Bismillah]

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1. Le Labo

8385 West 3rd Street, Los Angeles, CA 90048
After you choose from the artisanal fragrance brand's 15 signature scents, a perfumer will concoct a brand new batch on the spot. (There's also the LA-inspired Musc 25, exclusively available at only the West Third Street and Abbot Kinney locations). If a personalized label and a freshly-made mix isn't enough, fragrance fiends can get a truly bespoke scent crafted from the indie perfumery's vegan ingredients—for a cool $40K. [Photo: Le Labo]
8385 West 3rd Street
Los Angeles, CA 90048
(323) 782-0411
Visit Website

2. Persephenie

155 West Washington Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90015
Persephenie's 3.5-hour, hands-on Intro to Perfumery Class ($400) teaches the basics of fragrance, like extraction methods, odor classification, and more. The class is tailored to students's individual needs and may delve into natural botanical perfumery, aromatherapy, mixed media perfume, and other topics. After working with a "variety of botanical single notes and some chords," students take home an ounce of their very own creation. [Photo: Persephenie Studio]
155 West Washington Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90015
(323) 659-7507
Visit Website

3. Scent Bar

7405 Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036
Okay, it's not exactly a mix-your-own perfume bar—but this emporium of indie scents is a must-stop for its stock of hard-to-find, cult-fave labels. It's organized by notes like light florals, leather, fruits, and more. [Photo: Scent Bar]
7405 Beverly Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90036
Visit Website

4. KleanSpa

3319 W Magnolia Blvd, Burbank, CA 91505
Located eco-friendly boutique Mindful Nest, KleanSpa's master mixers make a party out of their hands-on classes with their bubbly-fueled blending bashes ($50). After enjoying a blind-smelling sesh from the bending bar and getting their palettes "collected," each student takes home a custom-made roll-on perfume. The fragrance "minions" (as they like to be called) can also whip up signature scents at your next soiree. Budding scent builders can also try a one-on-one class with a talented apprentice ($45) or with the "scentual mixtress" and owner herself, Jennifer Hardaway ($75). [Photo]
3319 W Magnolia Blvd
Burbank, CA 91505
Visit Website

5. Opus Oils at Jitterbug Perfume Parlor

1703 North Kenmore Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90027
This by-appointment, artisanal scent atelier is helmed by award-winning perfumer Kedra Hart, who helped develop The Apothecary at Barneys NY's Beverly Hills location. At her sensual speakeasy-inspired space, students can enjoy an olfactory adventure through the shop's house palette—think base notes used to create collections inspired by absinthe and burlesque beauties—in the Scents of Imagination class ($550). The process ends with a custom-made formula in a 1.7 atomizer bottle; there's also a mini version of the class for $250 and private one-on-one lessons for $500 to $950. [Photo: Opus Oils]
1703 North Kenmore Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90027
(323) 667-3376
Visit Website

6. Sarah Horowitz Parfums

850 Hampshire Road, Westlake Village, CA 91361
In addition to creating scents for big-name brands, perfumer Sarah Horowitz also crafts custom fragrances at her by-appointment apothecary in Westlake Village. A 45-minute sesh at the 100+ oil blending bar ($199) will result in a custom-made mini pure oil roll-on and a 1/2-ounce eau de parfum, while a one-on-one experience with Horowitz is $400. [Photo: Sarah Horowitz Parfums]
850 Hampshire Road
Westlake Village, CA 91361
(805) 497-1901
Visit Website

7. Bismillah Imports

1170 East Colorado Boulevard, Pasadena, CA 91106
At this crowd-pleasing perfumery alternative, oil-mixing guru S.M. Farasat Ulcah will help you craft a personalized essential oil concoction from an array of exotic options. The Pasadena boutique also offers matching handmade moisturizers and natural skincare remedies. [Photo: Bismillah]
1170 East Colorado Boulevard
Pasadena, CA 91106
Visit Website