Olfactory Architecture: Designing atmosphere through botanical fragrance and candle-making

At its centre is the creation of a bespoke fragrance for a soy-based candle, blended from raw botanical materials and guided by the principles — and quiet alchemy — of perfumery.

Through thoughtful, hands-on experimentation, the workshop reveals how scent, like architecture or product design, shapes the way people experience and remember the world around them. Notes are layered, tested, and refined, each decision subtly shifting the atmosphere.

By bridging sensory exploration and creative intention, the workshop expands the idea of design beyond what is built or seen to include what is felt and remembered — the emotional legacy carried in the spaces and objects we create.

DATE & TIME

SAT, 16 May: 2pm – 4pm

WED, 20 May: 6:30pm – 8:30pm

SAT 23, May: 2pm – 4pm 

LOCATION: Studio 416, 37 Swanston street, Nicholas Building, Melbourne.

Spaces are limited so book your place now.

This event is part of Melbourne Design Week 2026, an initiative of the Victorian Government in collaboration with the NGV.