You guys… If you are ANYWHERE within driving distance to Greensboro, NC (where I live!), I have an absolute must-do for you today! It’s so “must-do” that I have actually gone to a total of three workshops since August. That’s a lot for someone who doesn’t really make time to go out and do things all that often. Have you ever thought of how fun it would be to make your own candles or perfumes, but you don’t want to invest in all of the supplies and you don’t want to spend hours creating something only to realize it smells terrible? Scent Workshop: a Greensboro experience, has got you covered! However, what drew me into this workshop and has me coming back for more each time is that it is SO much more than just a candle workshop. It’s a community, a learning experience, and a place of self-discovery. I am going to take you through what the workshop is like, what the owner does to make it special as well as what she does to give back to the community, and show you what I’ve created as well. Are you ready to check it out? Boy, do I wish that you could smell through your screen as I take you through this experience!
Let me tell you the story of how I found Scent Workshop, or perhaps how it found me. This summer, I was idly scrolling through Instagram when I saw an ad from Scent Workshop promoting a giveaway for two seats in an upcoming workshop. I followed the shop and entered the giveaway, thinking to myself, “That looks like a fun place!” A few days later, Lindsay, the owner reached out to notify me that I had won! I was so excited to be able to attend this workshop and brought Emmy with me that first night. I honestly had no idea that walking into this special place would change my life for the better. Lindsay recognized me from my instagram photo when I arrived and immediately walked over and said hello, and just welcomed us so warmly. Isn’t she beautiful?
The workshop is located in a really cool building called Revolution Mill, an old factory which is part of the textile history of Greensboro. The huge windows offer so much light, and the brick and wood floors bring so much patina, character and charm to the location. It was a full workshop that night, with women of all ages, and there was even a couple doing it together. Emmy and I sat at a table with a couple women around my age as well as a couple of young 20-somethings who were just so sweet and chatted Emmy up the entire evening. Emmy was in heaven, as the only child hanging out with older women. 
Lindsay had everything set up for us when we arrived, and in front of each chair was a tray, a card, and a workbook to help you discover what kinds of scents you liked and what kind of mood you were trying to create. 
She told us all to go and smell all of the scents and make note of all that caught our eye, or nose, I suppose. Emmy and I both love so many scents, so we had a ball going through them all. I will say neither of us are too big into anything floral. 😉
Once we completed smelling all of the scents, we sat back down and chatted while we waited for further direction. I also checked out the room while we waited, and noticed all sorts of wonderfully empowering quotes and products upon the shelves. 
Don’t you just feel good looking at these images? I know I do!
Before diving into guidance and instruction, Lindsay told us a little bit about how she came to be in this field, and it all began with a business trip to Paris that her husband took. She tagged along on that trip, and decided to enroll in a French perfuming class. She learned the fundamentals there, and wanted to bring back what she learned to her hometown of Greensboro, but she wanted to enhance the experience by making it something much more personal. (By the way, she totally succeeded!)
Next, we were instructed to close our eyes and think about how we wanted our scents to make us feel, and what memories brought those feelings to us. We were to write it down in the provided workbook, which would then help us figure out which scent groups we should be using and mixing to create our candles and perfumes. As you can see, I write down a fisherman’s sweater I had from Ireland. When I was in high school I found it lingering in the back of my parents’ closet, and asked my dad if I could wear it. My dad is 6’3″ so the sweater was a little roomy on me,but oh how I loved it! It was warm, cozy, and perfect for chilly days.
As you can see, below where I wrote my feelings and memories is the section that helps you figure out which scent families to use to create the vibe you want.
Once I narrowed down which scents I wanted to try mixing, I grabbed the little brown bottles of those scents from the shelves, and used my three provided cups to start mixing to see what I could come up with. By the way, this was all under Lindsay’s instruction, but I am just giving you a quick idea of how this works.
Once I had created my ideal scent, I brought my card to Lindsay and she mixed it up on the proper scale for me with the wax, and told me to stir rapidly for 2 minutes, and then pour my candle.
While the candle set, I got to work on my mini perfume. Again, I used 3 cups to figure out my perfect mix, and then I used droppers to create and then pour it into a mini perfume bottle on my own. My candle was very warm and woodsy with a bit of vanilla, but I wanted my perfume to be a little softer and more feminine without being floral. Cashmere is one of my favorite scents for that so I mixed it with a couple other things to create my fragrance.
Once the perfume was created, and my candle was set, I was done! As you can see, I named my candle after that sweater, and you can see what scents I used in my perfume.
At the end of each class, Lindsay takes time to really develop community. The small conversational tables already foster an engaging friendly atmosphere, but at the end of class Lindsay takes time to talk and recognize people around the room as well. I had NO idea she was going to do this the first time I went, and she started to talk about how she likes to recognize women in business, and part of her mission is to promote that in the community. Her workshop actually gives back part of its proceeds to provide micro-loans to women entrepreneurs. How amazing is that? You can read more of Lindsay’s mission and story here. Anyhow, that first workshop I attended, Lindsay started to talk about women in business and her mission, and the next thing you know she introduced me to the room. Emmy told me I was very red. 😉 She then introduced a few other women who have local businesses as well, and I was thrilled to be able to connect with them.
The second workshop that I went to was a meet-up for local women in business and Lindsay was kind enough to invite me. That evening was an incredible experience! I met several women from the area who are entrepreneurs, creators, fitness & wellness advocates, and local store owners and managers. We talked about all sorts of things pertaining to business and life and it was an evening of connection, friendship, connection, and encouragement. I am so grateful that I got to be a part of it!
I am so fortunate that I won that fateful giveaway for so many reasons. First of all, hello, this workshop is SO much fun! Oh, and I forgot to mention, you can bring your own wine or drinks! It’s the perfect place for a girls’ night, a couple’s night, or even just a solo night to restore your soul. Secondly, I met so many incredible women through this experience, and I now feel like I am part of something here in Greensboro. I didn’t feel like that at all before I stepped foot into Scent Workshop. Lastly, I have made a great friend in Lindsay. We were instantly connected and I am so excited that I get to watch her grow this business because I think she has something truly special and unique in Scent Workshop. Even if you live over an hour away, you have got to get into one of Lindsay’s workshops because you will leave there feeling recharged, refreshed, fulfilled, and smelling a whole lot better, but that’s just a bonus really. 😉
