Blend Your Own Gin-Infused Perfume at York Distillery: Hands-On Workshop in York

At York Distillery on Skeldergate in York, England, the Perfume Workshop turns gin botanicals into a hands-on scent atelier. In a relaxed two-hour to two-and-a-half-hour session led by scent designer and fragrance journalist Nicola Thomis, participants use methods adapted from indie perfumer Sarah McCartney of 4160Tuesdays to blend juniper, citrus, rose and lavender into a thirty millilitre refillable perfume. The experience unpacks the practical overlap between distilling and perfumery: like a spirit, a fragrance is layered, with top, heart and base notes composed and refined through measured additions and patient sniffing. What makes this workshop sing is its local character and sustainable focus. Held behind a small raised bed garden on Skeldergate (the entrance shared with Emperor's Gym), the setting feels like a low-key laboratory rather than a classroom. You get two York Gin & tonics (or non-alcoholic alternatives) to sip while you experiment, and you leave with a personalised formula sheet and a refillable bottle you can reorder directly from 4160Tuesdays. For food-and-drink travelers, makers, or anyone curious about botanical craft in a historic northern city, it’s a compact, social deep dive into scent. Key features are tactile and aromatic: a curated selection of gin botanicals—juniper, bright citrus, floral rose and soft lavender—presentation glassware and a bench for trial blends. The workshop emphasizes eco-friendly ingredients and refillable packaging, making it a practical pick for travelers who want a responsible souvenir. Practicalities are clear: the session runs two to two-and-a-half hours, costs £70, and includes everything listed above. The workshop offers a different kind of local connection. It threads together York’s appetite for craft drinks with contemporary perfumery techniques, introducing students to sustainable sourcing and creative reuse. The entrance route—through the small raised bed garden on Skeldergate, not the main entrance to Middleton’s hotel—adds a little local puzzle to the arrival, and the small-group format keeps the pace personal and hands-on. Book this when you want an evening that’s equal parts tasting room, chemistry demo and creative studio; leave with a scent you made and the know-how to tweak it at home. Whether you’re gifting an original perfume or simply learning how juniper can move from gin to fragrance, this workshop is a memorable, practical craft stop in York. Sessions begin at the listed check-in point on Skeldergate; follow the map provided by York Distillery to find the garden entrance and descend the steps into the workshop. Every participant receives a personalised consultation during blending, plus a printed formula card that makes future reorders simple. The social format encourages sharing samples and swapping scent impressions, and hosts demonstrate dilution, fixatives and layering so you understand why certain notes linger or evaporate. It’s hands-on chemistry with craft-house hospitality. Bring curiosity and patience.