Trevejah J.

If you are trying to decide to choose this place or not, Just do it! My friends and I were looking for an activity to do and I found this place. They have an amazing perfume making class! From the moment I emailed and inquiry to see if they would have another class soon I received a response within 24 hours from Shelia squeezing is in. I definitely suggest calling or emailing if you don't see a class or time that works for you. There were so many amazing oils to choose from to purchase by inspired scents as well as an overwhelming amount oils to choose from to create your signature scent. Tara the owner was an amazing teacher and will definitely help you create the right blends. I will definitely recommend this place to friends.

Esmeralda R.

We had an amazing time here at scents by the bay. We had a private perfume making class and it was so fun and everyone was very knowledgeable and explained to us the background of perfume and the basics on how to make a perfume. This is the perfect girls day activity. We got to make our very own custom perfumes and got to name them. They also have lots of stuff to purchase from including crystals, candles, oils and sprays.

Darya B.

We took the Introduction to Perfumery class and had the best time. There were about 16 of us, and Tarah was amazing. She was super detailed, patient, and made everything easy to understand. We learned all about base, middle, and top notes, how the fragrance wheel works, and how scents come together to make something totally new. It was so fun to see how different everyone's sense of smell was. One person's favorite scent had someone else cringing, and it just made the whole class that much more entertaining. Tarah and her team let us wander around and mix at our own pace, which made it super chill and enjoyable. Also, who knew there were so many kinds of sandalwoods and musks? By the end, the nose blindness was real, so we definitely need to come back on a fresh day to smell everything again. We know they also sell candles, lotions, and other goodies, so that's another reason to return and explore. We're so excited to wear the perfumes we made to work tomorrow and already planning our next visit. Highly recommend if you want to do something creative, relaxing, and just plain fun!

Mary L.

What a cute place to visit. My friend and I are making candles for the first time and we came to the right place. The staff was super chill, knowledgeable, and cute. My only recommendation is to take your time smelling around, perhaps step outside for a bit, and let your senses adjust because it's easy to her carried away.

Ana Q.

Myself and my group of 3 others came in for a scheduled perfume blending class as a Galentine's Day activity. We all have varying degrees of interest in perfumes--from niche fragrance lovers to beginners. That said we all had something we wanted to takeaway from the class, which was to have fun playing with blending scents and making custom scent creations! We got all that, and more. Our scent teacher was very informative and did a great job breaking down key perfume making concepts, from scent families to the difference between a base, middle and top note and some common blending techniques to get us started. After the short lesson on perfume blending, we were off to the races. We had access to every single perfume note and blend in the store to start creating and experimenting. If any of us got stuck or wanted some expert advice on how to bring our custom blend closer to our ideal scent profile or simply wanted to make something more "interesting" our teacher was promptly available to support! After about an hour of play time with all of the DIY scent blending, we each finalized our custom scents and had them bottles, named and labeled. This was such a fun activity and highly recommended for anyone whose interested in learning something about perfume blending but mostly to have fun and participate in something hands on and fragrant.

Jessica G.

Love that we have this opportunity to make perfumes right here in the East Bay! I gifted my mom a perfume making class for Christmas. We originally booked way earlier in the year but had to cancel last minute. Luckily, the Scents by the Bay team was really understanding and they kept our credit in their system for MONTHS until we were able to rebook. I really appreciated that! We attended a wine and perfume making class on a Friday evening. Loved seeing all the different celebrations and reasons that brought folks to the class. Our group had about 12-15 people and we were spread out over 2 tables. After an educational session by the owner, Tarah, we were able to go around smelling all the different scents they had to begin building our own combination. The pamphlet they provided was super helpful. I really liked that they had some popular brand perfumes listed along with the smelling notes within them in case we wanted to make our own dupe. They even had some premade if you wanted to just use one of those as your base! There are sooooo many scents though and I'm not going to lie - decision fatigue was real. I would recommend going in with a specific type of scent that you'd like to create in mind. Otherwise, there are truly endless possibilities and you could get stuck just trying to make the right combo. At the end of the class, you'll get a small perfume roll on to take home of your scent. I heard you can even make them into other body care items like lotions, etc. Prices are super reasonable as well. Highly recommend this fun activity for date night, girls night out, celebrations, etc!

Angelina V.

If you're looking for a sensory escape with a splash of luxury, Scents by the Bay delivers. I recently attended one of their fragrance-making experiences and created my very own custom scent: "Husband Ready"--a sultry blend of sandalwood and Blackberry Midnight that's equal parts bold, mysterious, and unapologetically me. One spritz and suddenly I'm the main character. The vibe? Elevated and intimate. Think charcuterie cups, crisp white wine, and a room full of people trying to bottle their essence. Marz, our host, was a gem--warm, knowledgeable, and ready to help you turn your scent dreams into reality. She made the whole process feel like a celebration of self. The studio itself is cozy and chic, with soft lighting and shelves lined with dreamy oils and botanicals that practically beg you to mix, swirl, and sniff your way to perfection. It's the kind of space that makes you feel like you've stepped into a boutique apothecary curated by someone who understands both luxury and soul. Every detail--from the glassware to the playlist--was curated to make you feel pampered and inspired. This is a perfect date night, birthday treat, or anniversary splurge--especially if you want something hands-on, creative, and just bougie enough to make you feel fancy. That said, the price tag? Whew. A bit steep for my blood, so I'm calling it a "once every five years" kind of indulgence. Loved the experience, but when it comes to everyday wear, I'll be reaching for Gucci Bloom and keeping my coins. Still, if you're in the mood to feel like a perfumer with a glass of wine in hand and a scent that screams "I understood the assignment," Scents by the Bay is your spot. Just make sure your wallet is as ready as your nose.

Shaf K.

Took a perfume making class here yesterday for a friend's birthday. Tarah and her staff were very welcoming and managed the large group well. I was impressed with the selection of scents available for everyone to use. During the class you make a custom scent. You get to take home a bottle & they keep the recipe on file and will re make it for you whenever you want. Tarah will help you so you don't go buck wild & make something nasty. Here's a romantic idea; take a perfume class with the object of your affection, and make custom scents for each other. Great idea, right? Don't forget to invite me to the wedding! I'll be back to buy one of the designer dupes and the Baja blast scent. Yeah you read that right. Baja blast. Very cool to support an independent business like this, especially right now. I won't be buying scents anywhere else if I can help it. The less we buy from big box retailers the better. Buy local everyone!

We had the most amazing time with Tara, Ella and Poppy ! We signed up for scent making and the candle making class both classes are a must try! Plus lunch at 5 tacos &beer while we waited for our candles to set; and still finished in enough time to catch kickoff of the Super Bowl. The perfume and candle smells were amazing I felt like we both achieved our signature scent!!! Looking forward to burning Citrus Sparkle, Relaxing Vibes and wearing Carmel Dulce Tara is very knowledgeable and patient Looking forward to the El Cerrito opening coming soon. Would definitely do this again

Sadik T.

Amazing experience for a quick stop! I swung by on my lunch break for a few minutes to find some new scents for my apartment. I met the owner, manager, and their adorable Frenchie, and they all helped make a very pleasant experience for me, taking extra time to explain what they do and how they do it. They're clearly passionate about aromas all around, and they've got an abundance of wonderful items with extremely reasonable prices. I ended up getting a few things, but most notably, the "Sonoma Spa Blossom" oil for my reed diffusers. I am absolutely OBSESSED with the scent and find myself taking the heaviest whiffs of it every time I walk past my diffusers. I'll definitely be back for one of the fragrance making classes and to re-up on some oils once I'm out! PS - they even hooked me up with a local merchant discount even though my job is slightly out of the Elmwood range. Fantastic shop with a wonderful crew -- thank you Scents by the Bay!

Cara B.

Trinity was the one that helped us. Look for her to Custom blend you a scent. The quality is wonderful. Enjoy the whole process with Trinity.

Angel A.

We came here to celebrate our anniversary with a private perfume-blending session, and it was pure magic from start to finish. Marz was our guide, and she truly made the day unforgettable. It was our first time blending fragrances, and she was not only patient, but also incredibly passionate and knowledgeable. She walked us through the entire process with such care and excitement. With her help, we created a few custom scents that felt so personal to us, and yes, we got to name them ourselves! Having our own signature perfumes bottled felt luxurious and meaningful, and we left with something we'll cherish forever. The shop itself is a sensory paradise, gorgeous candles, body oils, and even lovely pieces of jewelry. Every corner of the space feels thoughtfully curated. If you're in Berkeley and want to do something intimate, creative, and memorable, this is the place. Thank you, Marz, for making our anniversary so special. We'll absolutely be back!

Cindy D.

I LOVE this store. I mean really love it. I also love all of the staff. I've been here 4 times now, after stumbling upon it with some friends in 2023. Here's why you should go: 1. PERFUME MAKING IS SO FUN. They have an amazing collection of scents to mix and match as well as a huge selection of duplicate designer fragrances if you want to skip the mixing and pick something already formulated. You can also make your fragrance into other home and body products from room mist to deodorant, shampoo to laundry detergent. So versatile! 2. GREAT PRICES AND FUN FOR EVERYONE. Regardless if you're a huge perfume fan or crafting your first scent, this is just a great activity. Last year in September I organized a private birthday perfume class with like 15 of my friends and Tarahs daughter facilitated. Everyone had a great time and the price of the class was very reasonable for everyone to leave with a custom made scent. I haven't seen a comparably priced alternative yet. 3. SUPPORT A GREAT WOMEN OWNED AND RUN SMALL BUSINESS. The owner Tarah is so kind and welcoming, her daughter is following closely in her footsteps as a great perfume mixer. Mars is also really talented and so helpful. My friends are a hilarious and rowdy creative bunch and the team did not flinch at any of our strange ideas, and jumped straight into the task. They are so cool, genuinely. Vibes are great. 4. GREAT GIFTS. If you're not into making a scent, I've bought other great gifts here also. Massage candles, warming stuffies, jewelry. There's a little something for everyone. I could go on and on but I'm just a huge fan of this team and the business. I hope they stay around a long time. Every time I go I have a great and memorable time and now it's my friends' and I favorite activity. Not to mention all the complements we get for our perfumes. Please go and try it yourself! I LOVE this store. I mean really love it. I also love all of the staff. I've been here 4 times now, after stumbling upon it with some friends in 2023. Here's why you should go: 1. PERFUME MAKING IS SO FUN. They have an amazing collection of scents to mix and match as well as a huge selection of duplicate designer fragrances if you want to skip the mixing and pick something already formulated. You can also make your fragrance into other home and body products from room mist to deodorant, shampoo to laundry detergent. So versatile! 2. GREAT PRICES AND FUN FOR EVERYONE. Regardless if you're a huge perfume fan or crafting your first scent, this is just a great activity. Last year in September I organized a private birthday perfume class with like 15 of my friends and Tarahs daughter facilitated. Everyone had a great time and the price of the class was very reasonable for everyone to leave with a custom made scent. I haven't seen a comparably priced alternative yet. 3. SUPPORT A GREAT WOMEN OWNED AND RUN SMALL BUSINESS. The owner Tarah is so kind and welcoming, her daughter is following closely in her footsteps as a great perfume mixer. Mars is also really talented and so helpful. My friends are a hilarious and rowdy creative bunch and the team did not flinch at any of our strange ideas, and jumped straight into the task. They are so cool, genuinely. Vibes are great. 4. GREAT GIFTS. If you're not into making a scent, I've bought other great gifts here also. Massage candles, warming stuffies, jewelry. There's a little something for everyone. I could go on and on but I'm just a huge fan of this team and the business. I hope they stay around a long time. Every time I go I have a great and memorable time and now it's my friends' and I favorite activity. Not to mention all the complements we get for our perfumes. Please go and try it yourself!