Create your own scent in this hands-on experimental perfume workshop led by an olfactory artist and researcher Arianna Khmelniuk (Zapah Lab). This workshop offers a unique approach to perfume creation. Moving beyond simple blending techniques, we’ll explore the conceptual language of scent, learning how to craft aromas that tell stories or become an olfactory art.

Khmelniuk’s curated blind-sniffing game will sharpen your olfactory senses, preparing you to dive deeper into the art of conceptual scent design. Explore the principles of blending and composition, working with various natural and synthetic aromatic materials. Learn the basics of perfume formulation, from fragrance classifications to the technical aspects of working with perfumery materials.

The workshop includes an introductory session covering the fundamentals, followed by hands-on experimentation with a curated and expansive selection of ingredients. Participants will receive guidance and leave with a spray vial of their own custom-created scent. All levels welcome.

RSVP for Friday, June 6, 4:30 PM workshop

RSVP for Saturday, June 7, 1 PM workshop

About the Artist

Arianna Khmelniuk is an Oakland-based experimental artist and MFA candidate at UC Berkeley. Her research-based project Zapah Lab and Olfactory Playground workshops explore scent in art, culture, and society. Her work has been featured in exhibitions such as Collapsense (UC Berkeley, 2024), Sense Bath (San Francisco, 2023), and Controlled Burn (MOCA GA, 2019). She has presented at UC Berkeley, Stanford University, and MIT. Khmelniuk has received grants from the Berkeley Center for New Media and the Hambidge Center-Creative Arts, among others, and has participated in residencies like Stove Works and Salzburg International Summer Academy of Fine Arts. Her work has also appeared in publications such as Olfactive Material Glasgow and Vogue Ukraine.