With a single set, you can create dozens of distinct fragrances—uniquely your own, full of character, and unlike anything found in mass-market stores.
A format for those looking for a thoughtful gift, just discovering perfumery, or who have already attended a workshop and wish to continue at home. A formula you love can always be recreated or further refined during an individual session at the laboratory—in Kyiv or Ivano-Frankivsk.
What's included in a perfumer set and what you might still need to get started
How many fragrances can be created:
dozens of unique combinations, depending on the proportions and choice of notes.
Estimated duration of the first session:
1.5–2 hours for an initial introduction to chords and a trial arrangement; a further 20–30 minutes the following day for final adjustments.
Difficulty level:
Suitable for beginners with no prior experience.
Price and delivery:
Please see the ‘15 Chords’ set page for the current price and available configurations. Delivery within Ukraine is via Nova Poshta; gift wrapping is available when placing your order.
Who is the perfumer’s set suitable for?
This set is suitable for almost anyone — the main thing is that the person has at least a passing interest in fragrances.
For myself
Custom search
If you’ve long wanted to find a fragrance that’s just right for you, rather than picking up ‘something similar’ off the shelf.
Gift
As a gift
Instead of yet another item that will be forgotten, give the experience. The recipient creates the fragrance themselves — that is the gift. Sets with a special design to suit a particular mood or season make the moment even more personal.
Leisure
For shared leisure
Mixing notes together, discussing what to add, and choosing the final scent as a pair. A fully-fledged creative evening without any unnecessary organisational hassle.
Teaching
For those who are studying
Your first step into the world of perfumery, without any pressure: try things out, make mistakes, and discover new combinations.
Whatever the format, a set is a way of expressing your individuality through fragrance.
Choose a set to suit your mood — and start mixing today.
How to create your own fragrance at home using a kit
The perfume in the set is created in stages: the notes are tested on strips, combinations are selected, the ingredients are blended in a bottle, the result is checked and, if necessary, the formula is adjusted.
01
Take a moment to savour each chord individually
Hold the test strip at a distance and let the result settle. Don’t rush.
02
Create a preliminary composition
Choose 2–4 notes that you’d like to combine, and set the proportions.
Mix the trial version
Use the pipettes and measuring containers from the kit, and record every drop.
04
Let the fragrance ‘breathe’
At least 20–30 minutes, preferably until the next day: the alcohol evaporates and the notes unfold differently.
05
Adjust the formula
Add or remove one ingredient, then test it on your skin again.
The first version is almost never the final one. This isn’t a mistake — that’s just how it’s meant to be. You keep the recipe you’ve written down, and each subsequent attempt becomes more precise.
Would you like to try the process with an expert before practising at home? Book a one-to-one masterclass at The Elixir in Kyiv or Ivano-Frankivsk — and create your first fragrance under expert guidance.
Safety, allergens and storage of ingredients
Safety checklist before your first mix:
Do a patch test: apply a few drops to the inside of your wrist, wait 24 hours. If redness or itching occurs, reduce the concentration or eliminate the ingredient.
Check the dosage limits for citrus oils and aldehydes—these groups have the strictest restrictions in the IFRA standard.
Wash pipettes and measuring cups between components: microdroplets of foreign accords change the final scent.
Sign the bottle immediately after mixing: date, composition, proportions.
Keep the bottles tightly closed on the bottom shelf of a dark cupboard — alcohol and concentrates are damaged by ultraviolet light and temperature fluctuations.
Do not apply large amounts of the unsecured fragrance to your skin until the patch test is complete.
Examples of successful combinations and recommendations based on fragrance style
The choice of notes depends on the character of the fragrance you wish to create. Here are a few pointers:
Day
A fresh, daytime fragrance
Citrus top note (bergamot, grapefruit) + green middle note (tea, violet leaf) + light woody base note (cedar, a small amount of vetiver).
Approximate ratio: 40 / 40 / 20
Evening
A cosy evening scene
A spicy or floral top note (pink pepper, jasmine) + an oriental heart note (ambergris, sandalwood) + a rich base note (musk, patchouli).
Ratio: 20 / 40 / 40
Unisex
A unisex, minimalist fragrance
A single, distinct middle note (iris or leather) + a neutral base (white musk) with no pronounced top notes. Simple, but requires precise blending.
Common mistakes when trying for the first time:
-
If you mix more than 5–6 notes at once, the fragrance becomes ‘flat’ and indistinct.
-
People judge the result immediately after mixing, before the alcohol has evaporated — wait at least an hour.
-
If you add too many base notes — they are long-lasting, but even a small amount will overpower everything else.
-
Don’t forget that a fragrance smells different on the skin than it does in the bottle — always test it on your skin.
What to do after your first scent: how to proceed
After your first attempt, make a note of everything — how many drops, which note, and in what order. Without these notes, the second fragrance will repeat the mistakes of the first, and you won’t understand why. Test changes one at a time and compare the blends on your skin, not from the bottle: a fragrance unfolds over time, and conclusions drawn five minutes after mixing are almost always wrong.
The first two weeks are the most important for understanding your own approach to working with fragrances. Don’t jump to conclusions.
Too many notes at once: start with three or four chords, not ten.
Don’t jump to conclusions: let the fragrance ‘settle’ and wait for at least an hour.
Unlabelled bottles: in a week’s time, you won’t remember what’s in which one.
Common mistakes when trying for the first time:
-
If you mix more than 5–6 notes at once, the fragrance becomes ‘flat’ and indistinct.
-
People judge the result immediately after mixing, before the alcohol has evaporated — wait at least an hour.
-
If you add too many base notes — they are long-lasting, but even a small amount will overpower everything else.
-
Don’t forget that a fragrance smells different on the skin than it does in the bottle — always test it on your skin.
If you’re looking for something more, book a one-to-one masterclass at The Elixir Perfume Laboratory. The master perfumer will show you how to create a formula from those same notes that sounds harmonious, and will save it for you so you can reorder it.
Frequently asked questions
15 fragrance accords, bottles (5 × 10 ml + 1 × 30 ml cup), pipettes, blotters and a booklet of recipes.
Yes. The level of difficulty is tailored to those working with fragrances for the first time: the accords are ready to use, and the recipe in the instructions explains the steps from scratch.
Dozens of different combinations made up of 15 chords — depending on the proportions and choice of notes. Each written formula is provided for you to practise.
Store in a tightly sealed container in a cool, dark place, away from direct sunlight and temperature fluctuations. The use-by date is indicated on the packaging of each component.