HOW WE TEACH

recommended order of classes

FOR BEGINNERS

We recommend taking these classes in this order:

Foundations of Perfumery for Experimental Applications (Saskia WIlson-Brown)

or Foundations of Independent Perfumery (Saskia WIlson-Brown)

Perfume 101: Perfume Literacy for Beginners (Minetta Rogers)

Perfume 202: Lab Best Practices (Ashley Eden Kessler)

Perfume 303: Perfume Composition Techniques (Ashley Eden Kessler)

In addition, these classes are recommended, at any stage.

Perfume Math (Saskia Wilson-Brown)

Essential Components (John Biebel)

FOR INTERMEDIATE / ADVANCED PERFUMERS

These can be taken in any order, though we recommend taking genealogy and accords classes in the order they are presented.

Materials Evaluation Class (Dana El Masri / Ashley Eden Kessler) ** coming soon
Perfume Genealogy Classes (Dana El Masri)
Accord Classes (Ashley Eden Kessler)

Open Sessions (Saskia Wilson-Brown / Guests)

Special Topics (various teachers)

SPECIAL TOPICS

These can be taken at will, for all levels of engagement or practice.

Perfume Culture and History Talks (various teachers)

Writing About Smell Part 1: Creative Writing (John Biebel)
Writing About Smell Part 2: Form (John Biebel)
Writing About Smell Part 3: Editing (John Biebel)

Setting up an Independent Laboratory (Saskia Wilson-Brown) - Note that this repeats and condenses some information taught in perfume 101, 202, 303

CHECK THE SCHEDULE

RECORDINGS + CLASS MATERIALS

All of our teachers are independent perfumers or academics who are sharing information that they have gleaned from their individual perfume and/or research practices.

We believe that it is very important for our participants to develop their own practice by taking notes, and by creating the structures that will take them through their own learning trajectory. We believe that creating these systems is a learning tool.

Although we prefer you attend in person, we are able to share videos for 3 days after each class. There are occasional exceptions to that.

We do not share the slide presentations from our classes.

We do not allow dissemination of screenshots or recordings of - or handouts from - our classes without express written consent.

Please respect our teachers' right to share information in the way that works for them by respecting this.

OUR VALUES

CULTURAL OPENNESS

The IAO is committed to access, experimentation, and cultural multiplicity in our approach to teaching.

LEARNING THROUGH DEMONSTRATION

We believe in learning based on direct visual experience of the materials, and the recognition of non-dominant scent cultures and value systems.

SELF-DIRECTED

Excellence is not assigned by adherence to normative external factors, but by a sense of personal accomplishment and joy in what an individual attains.

FACTS WITHOUT DOGMA

We want to teach about all the educational, material and supplier options available to a given practitioner, and encourage them to make informed choices that are in line with their own internal compass.

FREE SPIRITS

We want to encourage a free-spirited, self-directed approach to the medium, where participants gain a sense of agency as perfumers and a life-long confidence about their capacities.

HONESTY

We want to cultivate a space where participants are pushed to their best possible capacities, through direct, honest critique.

ROOTED IN REAL LIFE

We aim to provide participants with a deep and optimistic understanding of the multiple paths available to perfumers, with a focus on independent practices without neglecting the industry.

READ OUR COMMUNITY GUIDELINES

recommended order of classes

FOR BEGINNERS

FOR INTERMEDIATE / ADVANCED PERFUMERS

SPECIAL TOPICS

RECORDINGS + CLASS MATERIALS

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OUR VALUES