A Beautiful Afternoon of Scent, Creativity & Friendship at Olfactory NYC
Whitney Glandon
At Inspired Floral Designs NYC, creativity is at the heart of everything we do and sometimes, inspiration comes from stepping outside our space and into a new kind of artistic play. Recently, Barbara, our dear friend, and I spent an unforgettable afternoon at Olfactory NYC, and the experience became a joyful reminder of why we love creating together. It wasn’t just about perfume. It was about discovery, laughter, exploration… and the thrill of making something fun and that enhances the senses.
Exploring the Art of Scent
When we arrived at Olfactory NYC, we were warmly welcomed into a world of fragrance. Their space feels like a modern atelier of scent - clean, inviting, and filled with possibility. Everyone is very friendly and helpful. The process begins with choosing one of their nine core fragrances, each developed by some of the world’s top perfumers. These core scents act as the base, the foundation upon which your personal fragrance is built.
Together, the three of us smelled, compared, and delighted in discovering which bases spoke to us the most. It was amazing how different notes resonated with each of us - proof that scent, like art, is deeply personal.
A Special Twist: Barbara’s Fragrance Background
For Barbara, this wasn’t entirely unfamiliar territory. Her late husband worked for a well-known international flavor and fragrance company, and through the years she met some of the industry’s legendary “noses.”
She absorbed so much knowledge - how fragrances are composed and how a single note can transform a blend. And she has passed some of that wisdom down to me. Barbara is the one who taught me how to recognize a truly good perfume - not just by scent, but by balance, structure, and the emotion it evokes. Being back in a fragrance studio brought a spark of recognition and nostalgia for her, adding depth and magic to our experience.
Building Our Signature Fragrances
After choosing our bases, the real fun began. At the Scent Bar, we worked with our own Scent-ologist, who guided us through choosing additional notes to enhance what we loved - florals, woods, spices, citrus, musks, and more.
We played.
We sniffed.
We mixed.
We laughed as we compared test strips, debating between notes that felt subtly different yet entirely distinct. We sampled on paper first, then on skin - because perfume truly comes alive with warmth. Slowly, our custom fragrances took shape, each one capturing our individual styles.
Bottled Fresh, Just for Us
Having our fragrance bottled fresh before us added a beautiful, thoughtful touch to the entire process. Then came the naming - the perfume received a name we chose, stamped onto a label in a custom color. And because Olfactory NYC saves each blend on file, we can reorder our unique scents anytime. I ended up going back the next day to purchase the second beautiful scent we created. Now we have two beautiful scents!
What This Experience Meant to Us
As three women and dear friends - Barbara 97, me 46, and our dear friend in her late 30's - our afternoon felt like a celebration of creativity at every age. It reminded us how powerful it is to experiment, play, and make something simply because it brings joy.
Inspired Floral Designs NYC has always been built on friendship, curiosity, love, and imagination - and this experience was an extension of that spirit. No pressure. No rules. Just discovery, fun, and connection.
We left with our beautiful custom fragrance, overflowing inspiration, and the feeling that this adventure might spark something new in our own creative world. Who knows what may come next? What we do know is that our afternoon at Olfactory NYC will stay with us - a reminder that inspiration is everywhere, and that the most extraordinary experiences begin with a simple “let’s try this.”
With love,
Whitney & Barbara
Inspired Floral Designs NYC
