Hong Kong’s best-kept secrets: make your own perfume, just like in Grasse

Increasingly, people are swapping mainstream perfumes for niche fragrances in search of a more distinctive scent. But for a scent to be truly unique, you need to make your own.

Angel Cheung has always had a sharp sense of smell and first developed an interest in perfumery while working in marketing for several major perfume brands. She studied in the world’s perfumery capital, the French town of Grasse, perhaps best known as the birthplace of Chanel No. 5.

The town in Provence is home to dozens of fragrance companies. Some are closely guarded to keep their trade secrets, but there are some, such as Galimard, Fragonard and Molinard, that offer factory tours as well as a chance for visitors to create their own perfume.

Cheung, a certified aromatherapist, is offering a similar experience in Hong Kong to anyone interested in making their own signature scent. Her company, Intime Artisan de Parfum, holds regular workshops at various levels, costing between HK$550 and HK$1,380.

The process sounds simple at first glance – add drops of different ingredients to a tiny beaker, stir with a toothpick and pour in alcohol. But as with any chemical experiments, precision and accuracy is key, not to mention a deep knowledge of the characteristics of each fragrance (don’t worry, mistakes won’t lead to Samsung-like explosions, just an overpowering odour).