An exciting ‘Create Your Signature Scent’ workshop at the 41st Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) is leading visitors into the exclusive world of perfumes where Batool Sajwani, founder of Dubai-based Eternity Lifestyle Coaching, introduces participants to the art of creating personalised fragrances.

“Like music, perfumes have notes. You cannot just mix anything and everything together. You have to observe carefully what smell goes with which fragrance,” says Batool Sajwani to the participants at the one-hour workshop. 
  
“Children can choose to use one individual scent or mix three or more before deciding which one they want as their signature scent,” she explains. 

Rows of bottles marked with different labels enticingly invite teenagers to experience first-hand whether the fragrance they hold is flowery, fruity, citrusy or earthy. 

Open for children 13 and older, as well as adults eager to learn the art of making perfumes, the workshop is an eye opener for attendees in more ways than one. 

“Yes, we are here to show them how to mix perfumes, but the main reason for this workshop is to educate them,” she says.

Sajwani continues: “Most perfumes are either alcohol based or oil based. Oil based perfumes are extremely expensive. Ninety percent of perfumes on the market are alcohol based while the cheapest ones use methanol alcohol. This is flammable, bad for skin and may cause problems. So we want to educate them to read labels and know what ingredients are used in perfumes they buy.”

Curious teenagers listen attentively as they start to mix and pour various scents into the 30ml bottle that they then take with them as a fragrant reminder of an amazing experience.