Slow Scent® Natural Perfume

An immersive introduction to natural perfumery with Jess Mennella, founder of FLWR Napa Valley, using Mandy Aftel's Slow Scent® Method. Focus on 18 botanical materials including flowers, resins, spices, herbs, and citrus while learning to notice nuance, texture, and emotional resonance. Create your unique natural perfume under expert botanical guidance.

Features

Taught by perfumer Jess Mennella and using the Slow Scent® Method created by Mandy Aftel, this immersive course introduces participants to the practice of slowing down and deeply experiencing scent.
The class focuses on 18 botanical materials traditionally used in natural perfumery, including flowers, resins, spices, herbs, and citrus.
Guests are guided to smell intentionally, learning to notice nuance, texture, evolution, and emotional resonance over time.
Guests are invited to slow down and smell each scent individually, noticing how place, memory, and emotion intersect.
Participants create their own unique natural perfume as they learn about the Slow Scent® Method of perfuming.
Each guest leaves with their perfume formula, a finished perfume, and a natural perfumery guide, and scent wheel to continue exploring at home.
Appellation's chef crafted seasonal bites and local Sonoma County wines will be shared to compliment class conversations.

Local Perfumer

Jessica Mennella

Founder of FLWR Napa Valley

Jess Mennella is the founder and perfumer behind FLWR Napa Valley, a botanical perfume line rooted in place, memory, and the natural world. Working exclusively with plant-derived materials, her perfumes are created to help people slow down, reconnect with their senses, and experience scent as both an emotional and embodied practice.

Her work has been featured in museums, hospitality, winery, and cultural settings, and her FLWR Napa Valley perfumes are crafted in small batches using the essential oils, absolutes, and resins of the plants and flowers, sourced from around the world. Through both her perfumes and her teaching, Jess creates experiences that are intimate, grounding, and deeply sensory.

Testimonials

"The instructor was clear and creative. It was so relaxing!" - Cathy L.

"A great 2 hours with my daughter, we loved to make cookies together." - Jennifer G.

"We learned something new and now appreciate it." - Carrie M.

"Everyone was so friendly and I met some new ladies. Thank you so much for the special time!" – Marilys G.

"I loved the people, experience, atmosphere and learning." - Diane B.

"Very straight forward step-by-step directions, clear and concise. Lots of support and encouragement." - Renee L.