Entry No. 20 — the Portland file — filed under: perfume
Artemisia: Collage with Nature
At this SE 28th Avenue perfume bar you can walk in and blend your own scent from more than 50 natural essences on the spot, or book a deep-dive class on fougères, ambers, or "plein air" perfuming built around foraged botanicals.
The story
Most people pass 110 SE 28th Avenue assuming it's just another plant and terrarium shop along the Sunnyside corridor. But step inside Artemisia: Collage with Nature and you'll find an active laboratory for raw scent craft. Instead of buying off-the-shelf industrial perfumes synthesized in a chemical factory, you sit down with vials of real essential oils, resins, and absolutes to construct your own custom bottle right on the spot.
The setup centers around a bench loaded with more than 50 natural botanical essences. Beyond the standard drop-in blending bar, the shop runs deep-dive workshops dissecting complex scent architecture—from classic fougères and resinous ambers to "plein air" sessions built around foraged local foliage. Keep your eyes open while you're testing top notes: you're likely sharing the workspace with Paloma, the resident shop dove.
What it's like
When you walk in off 28th, expect a quiet space filled with living greenery, glass terrariums, and rows of dropper bottles. For $40, you can claim a spot at the walk-in Perfume Bar, where you'll work through a formula sheet balancing base, heart, and top notes from over 50 natural extractions. It's hands-on and largely self-directed, though you can get guidance when your formulas start clashing. Confirm current operating hours before heading out, as schedules shift.
The move: Do the walk-in Artemisia Perfume Bar together ($40 each) and blend two competing signature scents, or book the specialty workshop and leave with a bottle you each helped formulate.
- 📍 Sunnyside / Southeast Portland
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 110 SE 28th Ave, Portland, OR 97214
Hours: Added 2026-07-20 — confirm current hours before you go.
⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.
Pair it with
- Lone Fir Cemetery — Block 14 — Walk four blocks west after your scent session to explore the canopy and silent paths of Lone Fir Cemetery.
- Scotch Lodge — Head a mile west into inner SE to pair your custom natural perfume with rare whiskies in a dimly lit, subterranean-style bar.
- Hale Pele — Head less than a mile north to swap subtle botanical essences for strong rum cocktails and indoor thunderstorm effects.
Good to know
How much does the walk-in perfume bar cost?
Blending your own custom natural fragrance at the walk-in bar costs $40 per bottle.
Do I need a reservation to make a custom perfume?
No. The perfume bar accepts walk-ins, though structured group classes on specific perfume families (like ambers or fougères) require booking online in advance.
What ingredients are available at the bar?
The bar uses strictly natural botanical extractions—more than 50 individual essences, resins, and plant extractions rather than synthetic fragrance oils.
Is there a resident shop animal?
Yes, look out for Paloma, a dove who lives at the shop and keeps watch over the workstations.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · portlandmercury.com · oregonlive.com · Instagram · Reddit
last checked: 2026-07-20