Make Your Own Perfume with Ann Fragrance in Tokyo, Japan
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Make Your Own Perfume with Ann Fragrance in Tokyo, Japan

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Tokyo has no shortage of cool and creative things to do. But if you’re looking for something a little more elegant and personal, making your own perfume is a fun way to spend an afternoon and take home something uniquely you.

Having lived in Tokyo and constantly on the hunt for cool activities, we came across Ann Fragrance. It’s a spot where you get to design and bottle your own custom perfume. So of course we had to try it.

Here’s what you need to know about making your own perfume at Ann Fragrance, what the experience is like, and how to make the most of your visit.

Where Can You Customize Perfume in Tokyo

There are actually a handful of places in Tokyo where you can make your own perfume, but not all of them are easily accessible or visitor-friendly.

Some are more high-end and pricey, while others feel a little too basic. After looking around, we found one that hits the sweet spot.

Ann Fragrance is one of the best places to do this. It’s stylish, welcoming, and perfect for travelers or locals looking for a chill creative activity.

You’ll find Ann Fragrance in a few locations:

Asakusa: Just a 5-minute walk from Sensoji Temple, perfect if you’re already sightseeing in the area.

Omotesando: Their new flagship store opens on July 7, 2025.

Harajuku: This location is now closed permanently as of June 8, 2025.

If you’re choosing based on access, Asakusa is super convenient and right in the middle of one of Tokyo’s most iconic neighborhoods.

If you are planning your trip to Tokyo, here’s our Tokyo itinerary that helps you decide when to hit this spot.

Want more fun things to do in Tokyo? Here’s our full list of unique experiences.

About Ann Fragrance

Ann Fragrance is a Tokyo-based perfume brand that lets you make your own custom fragrance in a beautiful boutique-style store.

They’ve got over 35 unique scents on display, from fresh citrus and earthy woods to soft florals and cozy musks, and you get to play mixologist to build something that you like.

The staff speak both Japanese and English, and they are incredibly helpful when it comes to helping you select what fits you.

This experience is for anyone who wants to add a little scent to their daily life or walk away from Tokyo with a souvenir that’s not mass-produced.

For more information, booking, and their full scent catalog, check them out here.

Blending and adjusting your own custom perfume at Ann Fragrance.
Blending and adjusting your own custom perfume. Credit: Dana Yao.
Mixing the your personalized perfume.
Mixing the your personalized perfume. Credit: Dana Yao.

How to Make Your Perfume at Ann Fragrance, Step by Step

Here’s everything you can expect.

Check-in and Getting Started

Once you walk in, the space is calm, elegant, and smells nice. You’ll be greeted by the staff who are super friendly and walk you through the whole process.

It feels upscale without being intimidating. No matter if it’s your first time or you’ve made perfume before, they make it really easy to follow along.

Sampling and Selecting Notes

This is where the fun begins. You’ll see over 35 different scent options laid out in tiny glass bowls. All you have to do is lift and sniff.

Some are light and floral, others are deep and musky. You get a card to mark your favorites, which is super helpful because trust me, you’ll forget what you smelled 2 bowls ago.

Once you’ve narrowed it down to your top 3 to 5, you’ll choose one as your base scent. That’s the anchor of your custom perfume and everything else will build off of that.

Punch card to choose your custom perfume secents at Ann Fragrance.
Punch card to choose your custom perfume secents. Credit: Dana Yao.
Sniffing each scent and decide what you want in your custom perfume.
Sniffing each scent and decide what you want in your custom perfume. Credit: Dana Yao.

Blending and Adjusting the Mix

After you’ve chosen your top scents, you’ll move into the lab area for the making part. This part feels like you’re in a perfume chemistry class in the best way possible.

The staff will take your selected notes and start blending them one by one, using thin paper strips to test each combination.

They’ll adjust the balance depending on what you like more, maybe a little more floral, or a little less musk. You’ll smell each version and give feedback as they tweak it to perfection.

By the end of it, you’ll have a custom blend that smells exactly the way you want. It’s really fun and satisfying to watch your signature scent come together in real time.

Labeling and Packaging

Once your perfect scent is finalized, it’s time to make it official. You’ll head to the final station where you get to label your perfume and pick the finishing touches.

You can choose from different font styles, 2 cap colors, and the color for your fragrance (or stay transparent if you don’t want color in it), and even add little icons to make it more personal.

Then they package it up in a sleek 50ml bottle, put it into a soft fabric bag, and give you a scent formula card so you can recreate it again if you ever want a refill.

It’s beautifully done, and makes your custom perfume feel like a real product straight off the shelves, except it smells exactly like you.

You get to pick your own color for the perfume.
You get to pick your own color for the perfume. Credit: Dana Yao.
Customized label for your perfume.
Customized label for your perfume. Credit: Dana Yao.

How Much Does It Cost to Make Your Own Perfume

The whole experience at Ann Fragrance costs ¥4,950, which honestly feels like a steal for what you get.

You walk away with a full 50ml custom perfume, a cute fabric pouch, and your personalized scent formula.

Considering it also makes for a great gift or Tokyo souvenir, the price is more than fair.

Our Perfume Making Experience

We ended up making two bottles, one each, and both turned out completely different but just as amazing.

Mine was more floral and fresh, with a little warmth in the base. I wanted something soft but not too sweet, and this one nailed it. It smells cozy and a little flirty, something I’d actually wear every day.

What stood out the most during the whole experience was actually the staff. They were friendly, patient, and super on top of everything. You could tell they genuinely cared about helping us create something we’d love.

We made our own perfume at Ann Fragrance in Tokyo!
Our final product! Credit: Dana Yao.
Package your own custom perfume.
They come with a cute bag. Credit: Dana Yao.

Tips for a Smoother Experience

Take your time: You’ll be smelling a lot of scents, and trust me, they all start to smell the same if you rush. Sniff slowly, write down the ones you like, and give yourself a moment to really take them in.

Use the coffee beans: Just like at Macy’s, they’re there for a reason. Give your nose a break between scents by taking a good whiff of the coffee beans. It helps reset your sense of smell so you can keep going without getting overwhelmed.

Don’t be shy about asking for changes: The staff wants you to love your final perfume. If it’s not quite right, just say so. They’ll adjust the mix, try different combinations, and tweak it until it smells like something you’d actually wear.

Conclusion

Making our own perfume at Ann Fragrance turned out to be one of our favorite experiences in Tokyo. It’s fun, creative, and you walk out with something that feels totally personal. Plus, it actually smells good.

If you’re looking for something a little elegant, hands-on, and a whole lot of fun, Ann Fragrance is 100% worth checking out while you’re in Tokyo.