Future Perfumes: An Introduction to Sustainable Scents | London Craft Week

In the sustainable scent masterclass, visitors spend two hours discovering innovative renewable perfumery materials. Create your own fragrance and test a sample of Sarah McCartney’s new perfume, made from upcycled naturals, sustainable molecules and organic grain ethanol.

Unlike many crafts, we don’t expect perfume to last forever; like food and drink, ikebana or sandcastles, we appreciate them while they last. In the modern world, fleeting pleasures must be sustainably sourced, with responsible results. For that reason, craft perfumers are seeking out ethical growers, biodegradable molecules and green chemistry for lovers of fine fragrance.

It is widely assumed that natural materials are the answer, but it’s rarely that simple. The future of perfumery is careful stewardship of resources. Producers are now using more effective methods of extraction and upcycling waste products: growing musk molecules from sugar cane waste, extracting oakwood aromas from spent whisky barrels or cedarwood essential oil from sawdust, upcycling osmanthus petals to make a plant-based leather aroma.

Smell and use all these materials and more, including a green chemistry biodegradable lily scent and a delicious chocolate waft from upcycled cacao husks.

The class includes a refillable 15ml French glass bottle of perfume.