The overview of our 2018 class and the description of our activities can be found here, Scents of the Burgundian Spring.
I have some news for you. I’m going to teach a new perfumery course in France next spring (April 18-21, 2018). Since it will take place in Burgundy, a region renowned for its wine, the three day course will reflect that. We will learn together about the aromatics used in perfumery and found in wine, practice sharpening our sense of smell and learn to take apart accords and recognize notes. We will also have an overview of perfume history in the form of some of the most iconic fragrances. At the same time, I will show you lost masterpieces, less well-known but equally fascinating blends and teach you a number of professional techniques for smelling, remembering scents and describing them. And we will certainly be enjoying plenty of good wine.
The course will be held in Château Le Sallay in Magny-Cours. It’s a Renaissance-era building, once the residence of the Counts of Nevers, that’s been restored as a 4 star hotel surrounded by a large park. It’s easily reached from Paris, and if you wanted to combine the course with a visit to the Loire Valley, it’s possible.
Just like my previous two courses, this one is organized by Senses & Vacation. All of the details can be found via their website, The Art of Perfume. It also lists the program, accommodation details and much more.
The course program will be slightly different, but you can read about the course I taught in spring of 2017 here.
How to Book The Course: please go to The Art of Perfume website.
1st image by Anna Kozlova via Senses & Vacation, 2nd via Wiki-images, some rights reserved.
36 Comments
Annie: Sounds amazing! I keep my fingers crossed that I can join you. November 3, 2017 at 10:29am
Victoria: I hope you do! November 3, 2017 at 11:48am
Lauren: Everything about it sounds great. If I have any questions, should I post them here or email you? November 3, 2017 at 11:21am
Victoria: Whatever is more convenient. If you have questions about logistics, you can email The Art of Perfume directly:
http://theartandperfume.com
They have all of the details ready. November 3, 2017 at 11:50am
Marco: Will you be showing vintages like Coty Chypre and Guerlain classics like you did before? November 4, 2017 at 2:43am
Marco: Also, will we learn about naturals or synthetics? November 4, 2017 at 2:43am
Victoria: I will include both, since for perfumery both classes of materials are essential. Hope that you can attend. 🙂 November 4, 2017 at 11:22am
Marco: Ha ha! I’m already speaking like I’m there. I hope to figure it out soon. November 4, 2017 at 3:03pm
Victoria: I’m looking forward to it too. 🙂 November 5, 2017 at 5:54am
Victoria: Yes, definitely! November 4, 2017 at 11:21am
Pat: I would love to go! November 4, 2017 at 4:06am
Victoria: Please do join, Pat! November 4, 2017 at 11:22am
Julia: Oh, I am so upset that I cannot attend. I have a work meeting in the US at exactly that time. I will watch out for other courses as I would dearly loved to come November 4, 2017 at 7:48pm
Victoria: Another time, then! November 5, 2017 at 5:53am
Austenfan: Quite a different area for your course! If anyone has any time left, Bourges is not far from Nevers and has an absolutely stunning cathedral.
Good luck, to you Victoria, this course is fast becoming a fixture isn’t it? I’m sure it will be great again. November 6, 2017 at 9:32am
Victoria: Bourges is definitely worth visiting. I myself plan to make that trip after the course is over. November 8, 2017 at 10:29am
Austenfan: I really enjoyed it, the Palais de Jacques Coeur is beautiful as well, but the cathedral is just gorgeous. November 8, 2017 at 2:07pm
Victoria: I traveled a little bit in that area, but not as much as in some other regions of France, so still much to be discovered.
By the way, I’m reading a fun book written by someone who’s obsessed with grammar and languages, Poésie du gérondif de Jean-Pierre Minaudier. Have you heard of it? November 8, 2017 at 2:46pm
Austenfan: No, I haven’t it, looks great! And it’s pretty much what I am as well. Thanks, I’ll buy it.
The area around Bourges is not my favourite of the French regions, but it has some real beauties. I also liked Nevers, and La Charité sur Loire has another beautiful église prieurale. The Canal Bridge near Briare is a fun site as well. And Valençay is one of the most beautiful, and one of the quieter Loire Castles. November 8, 2017 at 4:24pm
Victoria: Thank you for the extra suggestions! November 9, 2017 at 4:40am
Austenfan: You are most welcome! November 9, 2017 at 9:00am
Lorie: Hi Victoria! Hoping to come again as Grasse was such a wonderful trip! After that course, Meg, Julia and I went in on a fabulous bottle of Voeu de Noel that popped up on eBay. Divine!
My husband and I spent part of a sabbatical in the eastern side of Burgundy not far from Dijon, renting an ancient house in Semur en Auxois. Not sure he’ll attend but I’m fairly certain I will. November 7, 2017 at 7:07am
Victoria: Such great news! I’m very happy that you will join again. And we will be doing different things this time, so it’s not a repeat of the other class. 🙂
That Caron perfume is up there for me with Nuit de Noël. Congrats on such a lucky find. November 8, 2017 at 10:30am
Lorie: I have a sealed bottle of Nuit de Noel that I plan to open Christmas Eve! I also just bought a small vintage Fracas, sealed, and so far, I’ve not been able to unseal it. Any suggestions on how to unseal stuck vintage bottles?? November 8, 2017 at 9:32pm
Victoria: Wash the area around the stopper with alcohol (vodka will do) to remove any sticky residue, dry it well and then use a hair drier to warn up the neck of the bottle. This is usually enough to unstuck the stopper, but sometimes you have to repeat the procedure a couple of times. Just rock the stopper back and forth gently. Good luck! November 9, 2017 at 4:39am
Aurora: This little castle looks quite magical! November 9, 2017 at 7:49am
Victoria: It does, doesn’t it! November 10, 2017 at 9:00am
Inma: Dear Victoria,
Such a beautiful course!
Not this time for me. Although I’d love to attend some other time.
Best luck with it! November 9, 2017 at 9:49am
Victoria: Thank you very much! November 10, 2017 at 9:00am
Sue: Hi … I’m curious if this course is for beginners like me? November 18, 2017 at 4:39pm
Victoria: Yes, absolutely. It’s open to everyone. November 18, 2017 at 7:29pm
Waltraud Werkmann: Is there still a chance to join the course in April? If so, how and where to book?
I love your way of writing.
Best,
Waltraud January 6, 2018 at 5:35pm
Victoria: Please click on the Art of Perfume link that I provided in this post. They list all of the details for booking. January 6, 2018 at 7:42pm
Victoria: http://theartandperfume.com January 6, 2018 at 7:43pm
Betty: How did your class go? Did you teach in English or French? August 9, 2018 at 10:20am
Victoria: It went really well. Here is the update:
https://boisdejasmin.com/2018/04/scents-of-the-burgundian-spring-the-perfume-course.html
I teach in English. August 9, 2018 at 1:14pm