REVIEW · HO CHI MINH CITY
High Quality Perfume Making Workshop in Ho Chi Minh City
Book on GetYourGuide →Operated by Vietnam Vivid Travel · Bookable on GetYourGuide
A perfume workshop that ends with a bottle you made. This is a hands-on 10ml blending session where you pick notes, test aromas like jasmine and citrus-inspired scents, and leave with your own labeled fragrance. I like how the format is simple and practical, and I like that you get to personalize the bottle design; the one drawback is that the session can feel more focused on making than deep perfume science.
You’ll start with a guided introduction to fragrance notes and scent families, then move into smell-first experimentation. English instruction is included, and the vibe is relaxed, friendly, and good for couples, solo travelers, or groups.
Because it’s 90 minutes, you’ll want to show up ready to choose what you like. If you’re expecting a long, detailed class on how perfumers balance formulas, you may find the time a little tight.
In This Review
- Key Things I’d Put on Your Radar
- Making Your Own Perfume in Ho Chi Minh City: The Real Deal
- Start With Notes and Scent Families (So You Know What You’re Choosing)
- The Smell-Test Phase: Your Choices Actually Drive the Result
- Blending Your Formula: Where You Get Guidance Without Feeling Rushed
- Designing the Bottle: The Keepsake Part (Not Just the Smell)
- Who This Workshop Fits Best (And Who Might Want Something Else)
- What You Get for $19: Value Breakdown
- Practical Tips So Your Perfume Ends Up the Way You Want
- The Atmosphere: Relaxed, Friendly, and Built for Enjoyment
- Quick FAQ About This Ho Chi Minh City Perfume Workshop
- FAQ
- How long is the perfume making workshop?
- What is the price?
- What do I get to take home?
- Are there different scents to choose from?
- Do I need to know anything about perfume beforehand?
- Is the workshop taught in English?
- Do I get help while I mix?
- Can I personalize the bottle?
- Is there a quick entrance option?
- Should You Book It?
Key Things I’d Put on Your Radar
- Vietnam-inspired aroma options like floral jasmine and refreshing citrus-style scents
- Top, heart, and base notes explained in a way that helps you build layers
- One-on-one help while you mix, so your formula doesn’t turn into a guess-and-pray situation
- Bottle design time so your perfume looks as good as it smells
- Gift packaging included, which makes it easy to bring home as a present
- Clear English guidance noted in reviews, though communication can be harder if you have zero English support
Making Your Own Perfume in Ho Chi Minh City: The Real Deal
If you like the idea of buying a perfume in Vietnam but you’d rather create something personal, this workshop hits the sweet spot. For $19 and about 90 minutes, you’re not just smelling samples—you’re building your own formula from essential oils and aroma choices, then transferring it into a 10ml bottle that’s yours to keep.
At this price point, the value is mostly in the process. You pay for access to the oils, the guided note overview, and the step-by-step help while you blend and bottle. What you probably won’t get is a long lecture-style class on perfumery theory. That’s fine if your goal is an experience and a keepsake, not a textbook lesson.
You can also read our reviews of more city tours in Ho Chi Minh City
Start With Notes and Scent Families (So You Know What You’re Choosing)
Before you start mixing, you’ll be introduced to fragrance notes and scent families. This matters more than it sounds. When people shop for perfume, they often pick based on one pleasant smell. But perfume is layered. The workshop teaches the idea of top, heart, and base notes, and how those layers give a fragrance shape over time.
Here’s what that means for you in a practical way:
- Top notes are the first impression—often fresher and lighter.
- Heart notes show up once the top layer fades—often floral or aromatic.
- Base notes linger—usually deeper, warmer, or longer-lasting.
You’ll also explore scent families and learn the basic character of different aromas. Some choices are described as inspired by Vietnam’s culture, which is a nice touch for souvenir-making. If jasmine or citrus notes sound like your style, this is where you’ll test those vibes directly before committing to a blend.
The Smell-Test Phase: Your Choices Actually Drive the Result
Once you’re oriented, you’ll move into the fun part: smelling and selecting from a range of high-quality essential oils and aromas. Reviews highlight that there are plenty of scents to choose from, and you generally get enough time to work toward something that feels right.
This phase is where you should slow down. Don’t just sniff and move on. Try to pick a direction in your head:
- Do you want something fresh and bright (citrus-style)?
- Do you want something soft and floral (jasmine-like options)?
- Or do you want a balance that feels more like everyday perfume than a single-note scent?
A common theme in feedback is that the workshop is very about the making, not about training you to become a fragrance expert. So treat the note guide as a shortcut. It helps you choose, but you’re still the decision-maker here.
Blending Your Formula: Where You Get Guidance Without Feeling Rushed

After you select your notes, you create your perfume formula by blending your chosen scents. The format is guided, and you get one-on-one assistance while you mix so you can end up with a balanced result.
This is a big value point. DIY blending sounds easy until you realize how quickly a “good idea” can become overpowering. The instructor help is what keeps your blend in the zone where it smells intentional instead of harsh or muddy.
You’ll mix according to your custom formula, and the staff support you in getting it right within the session. With only 90 minutes, that assistance is the difference between a fun activity and a frustrating one.
Designing the Bottle: The Keepsake Part (Not Just the Smell)

Most perfume-buying experiences end with a store label and a receipt. Here, you get to make it feel personal in a more visible way.
You’ll choose a bottle design that suits your style, then personalize it further with a label and the cap or design elements available. The included bottle is 10ml, and you also get gift packaging.
This is genuinely worth your attention. A perfume bottle doesn’t just hold scent—it signals taste. If you’re bringing it home for yourself, your label and design choices will be the reason you remember it months later. If you’re gifting, the included packaging saves you the last-minute hunt for a proper present.
A few more Ho Chi Minh City tours and experiences worth a look
Who This Workshop Fits Best (And Who Might Want Something Else)

This experience works especially well if you want a relaxing, hands-on souvenir. Reviews mention it’s easy to do with friends and family, and it can be enjoyable for couples. I’d also say it suits solo travelers because you’re busy the whole time, and the format keeps you from feeling awkward or lost.
It’s also a good choice if you like the idea of taking home a unique scent without needing a complicated shopping plan afterward. You walk out with something tangible, and it’s a story you can tell later.
A possible mismatch: if you’re craving a deeper, more technical explanation of why certain scents work together, you may feel the workshop is a bit “make-first.” One review suggested the class could provide more about perfuming itself and what makes notes pair well. In other words, you’ll leave knowing how to create your blend, not necessarily how to replicate professional formulas from scratch.
What You Get for $19: Value Breakdown

For $19 and about 90 minutes, you receive:
- A 10ml perfume bottle made by you
- Gift packaging
- English instruction
- Skip-the-line entry via a separate entrance
- One-on-one assistance while blending
That’s a lot of “end product” for a short class. Many paid experiences offer a craft where the main cost is the labor but you still end up with something small or generic. Here you’re walking away with a usable fragrance in a designed bottle, with personalization built in.
The price also makes it realistic to do even if you only have limited time in Ho Chi Minh City. You don’t need half a day, and it’s the kind of activity that pairs well with other central sightseeing.
Practical Tips So Your Perfume Ends Up the Way You Want
You can’t control every variable, but you can stack the odds in your favor:
- Start by choosing a vibe, not a single scent. If you want something daily-wear, lean toward a balanced top/heart/base. If you want something more dramatic, choose a stronger base direction.
- Pay attention during note explanations. Top, heart, base is the workshop’s shortcut to avoiding a flat smell.
- Don’t be shy about adjusting during mixing. The one-on-one help exists for a reason. If it smells too sharp or too heavy, say so.
- Be mindful of language comfort. English is used for instruction, but if you don’t speak English well and you don’t have a friend who can help, communication may feel harder.
- Think about gifting early. If it’s a present, pick a bottle style and label that match the recipient’s tastes, since you’ll build those choices into the final keepsake.
The Atmosphere: Relaxed, Friendly, and Built for Enjoyment

The workshop is described as welcoming with friendly instructors. Reviews also mention clear step-by-step English guidance, and a generally easy experience for couples and groups. It’s not presented like a stiff lab. It’s more like a guided atelier where you get to play with scent families and come out with your own bottle.
One small but real consideration: there’s a note in feedback that the guidance felt limited for one person, with the workshop seeming mostly focused on letting you do the mixing rather than teaching more about perfume artistry. That doesn’t make it bad, but it helps set expectations: the workshop is about creating.
Quick FAQ About This Ho Chi Minh City Perfume Workshop
FAQ
How long is the perfume making workshop?
It lasts 90 minutes.
What is the price?
The price is $19 per person.
What do I get to take home?
You’ll take home a 10ml perfume bottle you create, plus gift packaging.
Are there different scents to choose from?
Yes. You can choose from a variety of high-quality essential oils and aroma options, including scents inspired by Vietnam such as floral notes like jasmine and refreshing citrus-style aromas.
Do I need to know anything about perfume beforehand?
No. The workshop includes an introduction to fragrance notes and scent families, including how top, heart, and base notes work.
Is the workshop taught in English?
Yes. The instructor provides instruction in English.
Do I get help while I mix?
Yes. You receive one-on-one assistance to help you blend a balanced result.
Can I personalize the bottle?
Yes. You can choose a bottle design and personalize it with a label and bottle design elements.
Is there a quick entrance option?
Yes. There’s a separate entrance that lets you skip the line.
Should You Book It?
If you want a hands-on, low-commitment activity that produces a real keepsake, I think you should book this perfume workshop. The blend-your-own format, the guided note overview, and the bottle design plus gift packaging make it feel like more than a basic souvenir stop.
I’d only hesitate if your main goal is a deep, technical perfume education. At 90 minutes, this is built for creating and enjoying, not for turning you into a perfumer.
Pick it when you want something memorable you can actually use—and when you like the idea of making a scent that fits your taste, not someone else’s shelf selection.






























