A Journey Through Natural Perfumery - Ally's Final Essay 

Ally's heartfelt words reflect the profound impact of her experience at the Natural Perfume Academy, painting a vivid picture of the transformative power of botanical fragrances. Her exploration, learning, and growth mirror the essence of our academy's ethos, resonating with the dedication and passion that have shaped our 15-year journey. Click to read

Louisa Kimball, Australia

"I would highly recommend this course to anyone interested in becoming a real natural botanical perfumer, and am so grateful I've had the privilege to participate in the magnificent course. Thank you, Justine. You are a star in this field and it has been a pleasure completing this coursework."

Dorota Pietkiewicz, United States 

"Thank you most warmly for the enjoyable experience and the journey through natural perfume. It was an occasion I should always remember. Thank you for professional knowledge, kindness, support, and time." 

"The course is excellent, it's in depth and very comprehensive, since it covers creative as well as scientific topics. This is very important for me as a botanist and scientist. It's a very good opportunity to extensively develop one's intellectual and practical creativity. You are guided by a marvellous expert, Justine. It is amazing how she is always there to explain and help. It is an incredible support she provides all the time. It warmly would recommend this curriculum to everyone who is passionate about nature and scents."

"As you know, I've been working in natural perfumery for twenty years, so my experience of this course is likely very different from the usual student. I spent five years at the beginning of my scent hobby exploring natural ingredients, first for aromatherapy and then for perfuming, with no formal process and at great cost of time, money, and patience. Despite the knowledge I'd already gained, I did my best to employ 'beginner's mind' to everything that was presented in this course, which really helped me approach familiar materials with a fresh perspective, and learn more properties and ways of using them. In addition to my main goal for this course -- to help me brush off the cobwebs of my knowledge and have a framework to rebuilt it -- I specifically learned the following technical skills -- More effective, less expensive ways to figure out what ingredients work together -- How to evaluate ingredients in varying dilutions to understand what scent components emerge, and How to create my own scent materials, and that doing so is just as important as purchasing them. Demystifying and practicing ingredient evaluation, dilution, and general formula mathematics has increased my confidence exponentially. Thank you for the invaluable information in this course, and your guidance, Justine.”

“Fantastic, informative course. I Just completed it. Both Justine and Ruth are there to help you every step of the way. I am so glad i did it. I have been opened up to an exciting world of scent and alchemy. Hoping to start my own business selling natural perfumes in the very near future. Thanks to you both again.x”

"When I was searching for a course to guide me in my beginnings in natural perfumery, I found a lot of them... different teachers, different prices, different references... Most of them had great review and notes on the press and magazines. So I was a little lost. I found Natural Perfume Academy almost by coincidence and it called my attention because... the issues they teach! Ruth is always there, working for anything you need and a very honest person. Justine... what can I say?... She's a wonderful teacher and she will guide you to your best potential... and Shelley... and your mates... You work a lot! It is really an intensive course! and you learn a lot!! I'm grateful for "whatever" has moved me to NPA and, I can tell, I'm very proud of being a student. I feel the colours!!! 

So my advice is... if you want to learn, come in! you won't regret it." 

"For me, The Natural Perfume Academy is fundamental. I studied, I study and work here. I am in this school since 2008, when I was enrolled in the first group of students. I read many books, made a lot of experiments, was in many activities, events, contests, but it is here in the Academy where I feel comfortable to discuss and exchange ideas and information. I hope to stay here taking part in plans and projects, teaching, helping out, but mostly learning, apprehending and understanding. The contribution of Justine Crane and Shelley Waddington in my formation as a perfumer is immersible and the friendship and support that come from Ruth Ruane are indispensable. If you are interested in Perfumery, in the art of perfuming products, want to have your own business, be a professional or even to know better and make your own perfumes as a hobby, come to the Academy.

It is a very nice environment to be in and everything will contribute to your development in this Art. The art of composing perfumes." 

"From one lonely natural botanical perfumery novice/student to another ~ are you lonely and sad for not being able to share your burgeoning obsession with your beloved and friends because they just don't understand? Do you pray to the Goddess of ATS [All Things Smelly] for lively conversation and passionate banter amongst like-minded perfumery folk? Do you wish for a friendly forum where you can learn learn learn and ask those dreaded newbie questions [without fear of retribution] in the safe and very capable hands of a highly skilled and knowledgeable teacher?

Once upon a time, I was that lonely NBP novice perfumer, desperate for friends of similar ilk and a place where I could talk about perfumery, ask silly questions, feel loved and appreciated and learn learn learn! Within the Natural Perfume Academy, I found this all [and more!]. The course is set up to be interactive, providing a vast and comprehensive introduction to natural botanical perfumery. I would highly recommend this course to anyone who would like to make something more of their passion. As a student, I've loved the interaction I've had with the other students, the excitement of successes and discoveries, the sadness of the 'back to the drawing boards', and the learning, guidance, support, and wisdom of our fabulous teacher. I just don't want it to end!!''


"Being part of the Natural Perfume Academy has proven to be a positive step in my natural botanical perfumery studies. When I started the course I was so happy to join others who have the same passion for NBP as I did. Although we each had varying levels of knowledge of this art one thing I can appreciate about the course is that all instructions were clear & understandable. You didn't feel like you were so far behind other students that you'd never catch up. Or that the course was so easy that it was a waste of your time. That happy medium had been met! And no student came in with a "me" attitude. Everyone has been very helpful and willing to share ideas, suggestions, resources and "new to us" discoveries. The assignments are challenging and each student has been very encouraging every step of the way. And with the guidance of our very knowledgeable teacher, who practices what she teaches, you just feel like you're in the right place to learn."

"As a student of The Natural Perfume Academy, I have managed to turn my passion for perfumes into something so much more. The course has opened my eyes to every aspect of natural botanical perfumery that I could possibly have hoped for. Being armed with this greater knowledge not only allows me to grasp a better understanding of the processes behind creating a new perfume; but also helps me understand those scents that already exist. With a lot of valuable direction and encouragement from The Natural Perfume Academy mentors and other students, this course has given me a platform to realising my ultimate dream of producing marketable perfumes. I feel anyone who is resolute to study hard, share ideas, and has a genuine passion for perfume would fully benefit from this course."

"I was possibly the odd one out on the course as my work is predominantly with animals and although I have an interest in using fragrance therapeutically I did not intend to take up perfumery professionally. However, I would like to urge anyone in the same position not to be put off. Do it for fun, for learning, for inspiration, for yourself, for the sheer hell of it!
This is the most comprehensive course and will take you from complete beginner on day one to the point where you can write a brief and from this paper concept create your own bespoke fragrance. You will learn not only about the safety, chemistry and basic building blocks of the process but you will also begin to understand the sheer alchemy and magick involved in the blending of different materials to create something totally unique.
I was also blessed with a wonderful bunch of co-students from all over the world who inspired and supported me, especially as I suffered three very close personal losses during the course of the year. There were times when I had got so far behind that I felt like giving up but both they, Ruth and Justine kept me motivated and going and I am so glad I did.
You need to understand that this course is hard work and you will need to be disciplined and work to deadlines, all the more so because you are not working face-to-face with other people. There is a lot of work to do, especially in the early days when evaluating each essence, but it is an exciting journey of discovery, the work is fun and engrossing and if you are anything like me, you will not want it to end."