Kampong Glam Perfume Making Workshop: PerfumePlay from S$60

PerfumePlay is at 23A Bali Lane, Singapore 189859, on the second floor, and it opens daily from 10 am to 7 pm by appointment. The perfume making workshop costs S$60 for a 10ml bottle, S$80 for 30ml and S$100 for 50ml, according to the studio's own booking page. You smell more than 25 fragrance notes, pick your favourites and leave with a perfume made on the spot.

PerfumePlay describes itself as a female-run fragrance studio rooted in creativity, self-expression and scent-driven joy. The founders' line is that perfume should be personal, playful and bold, and the room is set up to match, with a vibrant, welcoming space for solo visitors or groups of friends. It is a studio rather than an attraction, so expect a small group at a time.

The location is Bali Lane, a narrow side street in Kampong Glam, one of the most colourful pockets of the city. The studio sits above street level at Level 2, so look for the stairs rather than a shopfront. Booking is by appointment only, and the studio says visitors are asked to schedule a slot rather than walk in during the day.

Besides perfume, the same studio runs candle making, room and linen spray making, and a matcha-and-fragrance combination session. That mix matters if you are bringing friends with different tastes, because one person can blend a perfume while another pours a candle, all in the same booked slot and room.

The core Parfum Making Workshop is sold in three sizes. The 10ml bottle is S$60, 30ml is S$80 and 50ml is S$100. Staff set out more than 25 fragrance notes for you to smell, and the studio names Cashmeran, Turkish Rose, Violet, Ambrette and Vetiver among them. Notes vary seasonally, so you may not find every named oil on your visit.

The process is simple. You smell the notes, tell the team which ones you like, and the studio helps you turn your most-liked notes into a perfume you take away that day. A halal-friendly option is available if you ask in advance, which is a considered detail in a part of Singapore with a large Muslim community.

A weekday deal sometimes appears on the site. The site lists the 10ml workshop at 30 percent off, S$42, on weekdays, with a minimum of two guests, advance booking, and no rescheduling once booked. The banner also offers S$5 off per person for bookings of two or more guests. Both offers are automatically applied at checkout.

PerfumePlay is strict about changes. All purchases are final and non-refundable. Rescheduling needs at least 24 hours' notice, rescheduling requests inside 24 hours are non-refundable and non-transferable, and rescheduling is limited to weekdays. Weekend slots are not guaranteed and are offered only if available, so pick your date carefully before you pay.

Because the studio opens daily from 10 am to 7 pm, you can choose almost any slot, but weekend afternoons are the busiest. A mid-morning weekday session is the easiest to get and the quietest for smelling, since there are fewer groups sharing the notes.

For groups, the studio's contact page offers group events and private parties, from corporate team-building to birthdays and bachelorette parties, with experiences customised on request. If you are organising for more than a handful of people, message the studio first rather than booking individual slots, because a private booking can set the room up for your party.

The Matcha x Fragrance Making Workshop adds an iced matcha latte, made with dairy milk by default, to the session. Prices are S$65 for a 10ml perfume, S$85 for 30ml, S$105 for 50ml, S$67 for a candle and S$55 for a room spray. The studio says alternative milks are not available, which is worth knowing if you avoid dairy.

If you prefer a home scent, the Room and Linen Spray session costs S$50 for 30ml, S$70 for 60ml and S$120 for 250ml. The candle workshop is S$62 for a 100g candle and S$84 for 200g, and you choose between one and four fragrance notes to blend. A frank pick: choose the perfume session if it is your first visit, since the candle is easier to buy anywhere.

Skip the 50ml bottle unless you already know you will wear the scent. A 30ml is plenty for most people, and the notes you choose can change your mind once the perfume sits on your skin for a day. If you love it, ask whether the studio can recreate the blend later.

Come without wearing perfume. Your wrists and the inside of your elbows are the neutral skin the studio suggests you smell between notes, and a strong scent from the morning confuses the comparison. Cashmeran reads warm and woody-musky, Turkish rose is full and jammy, violet is powdery, ambrette is a soft musky seed note and vetiver is earthy and dry. Knowing that helps you steer your pick before the studio steps in.

Bali Lane sits among some of the most photographed streets in the neighbourhood. Haji Lane, known for its boutiques and murals, and Arab Street, with its textile shops, are both steps away, and the golden-domed Sultan Mosque anchors the quarter. Head there after your appointment to see how your new perfume reads outdoors.

For food, Kampong Glam has plenty of Middle Eastern, Turkish and Malay restaurants within a short walk. Bugis is the nearest big MRT interchange, so you can leave by train without a long walk. Keep your bottle out of direct sun, because heat and light dull a fresh blend.

Address: 23A Bali Lane, Level 2, Singapore 189859. Hours: daily 10 am to 7 pm, appointment required. The Parfum Making Workshop costs S$60 for 10ml, S$80 for 30ml and S$100 for 50ml. Purchases are final, and rescheduling needs 24 hours' notice. Karpo APP can help you plan the rest of your Kampong Glam day.