“Perfume is the most intense form of memory.” – Jean-Paul Guerlain
There are destinations that make you come to your senses. And then there are those that take them on a journey.
Morocco is a bit of both.
The North African Kingdom is the kind of place that makes you realize what it means to truly embrace a foreign land. To get under its sun-kissed skin. Feel its cultural heartbeat. And touch upon something that lets you connect with it on a more intimate, sensory level.
Which is what Morocco by Travelive’s Country Manager, Khadija Bensouda, invites you and your travelers to do, with a unique and fragrant experience that reveals the true essence of Morocco in every sense.
And here’s her very own inside look at it.
“Marrakech will always hold a special place in my heart. And this experience is a truly special way to discover another side of it. One that’s a little more intimate, but equally sensory. Something that lets you create an entirely personal piece of it to take home. Making it a wonderful addition to our Marrakech – A Short Break itinerary, or any other journey that looks to reveal Marrakech beyond the usual highlights.” — Morocco by Travelive Country Manager, Khadija Bensouda
A Hint of Morocco — Perfume Workshop in Marrakech
I’ve always been a little jealous of people who get to experience Morocco for the very first time.
Being Moroccan myself, I can only imagine what it must feel like to arrive in Marrakech and take those first steps into the medina. To catch the aroma of spices drifting through the streets before tasting your first tagine in Jemaa el-Fnaa. To come without expectations and leave with a glimpse of a culture unlike any other, along with half of its souks inside your suitcase.
Because even though I get to experience Morocco every day, it never stops surprising me. There is always another detail to discover, another corner to explore, another scent that brings back a memory or creates a new one.
Luckily, my role as Morocco by Travelive’s Country Manager often gives me the opportunity to see my country through the eyes of our travelers. And recently, I had the chance to do just that with an experience that offered me a particularly personal way of reconnecting with Morocco: a perfume workshop in the heart of Marrakech.
Morocco has a long and intimate relationship with fragrance. Rose water, orange blossom, saffron, aromatic herbs and essential oils have been woven into Moroccan beauty rituals, celebrations and everyday life for centuries. That’s why, when we stepped into Marrakech’s Perfume Museum, it felt both new and somehow entirely familiar.
Housed in a 19th-century riad, it was a world away from the fashion houses you may find on the label of your favorite eau de toilette. And that’s the beauty of it.
This experience explores Morocco’s traditional perfumery, from the plants and natural ingredients themselves to the techniques used to transform them into fragrant oils and waters.
And then came the best part: creating our own.
With a selection of fragrant oils, essences and natural ingredients before us, the possibilities seemed almost endless. Floral, spicy, woody, citrusy, anything you could wish for.
Slowly, with guidance from our local expert, we began exploring them one by one, discovering which notes spoke to us and, perhaps more importantly, which ones felt like Morocco.
A few drops here. Another essence there. A little experimentation in between. And the fragrance began to take shape.
What I loved most was that there was no right or wrong combination. The experience was less about following a recipe and more about discovering my very own idea of Morocco. And as the different notes came together, so did a newfound memory of it.
Because in the end, I wasn’t simply taking home a bottle of perfume. I was taking home a story.
A Lasting Moroccan Memory
And just like that, anytime your travelers wish to return to Morocco, a glimpse of it will always be waiting to become a fragrant part of their day.
Which is what makes this experience such a special addition to one of Morocco by Travelive’s Marrakech itineraries, particularly for couples and travelers looking to experience a more intimate side of the city. Because it offers them something beyond sightseeing: a chance to slow down, explore Marrakech through the senses and create a personal reminder of their time here.
So, if your travelers are looking to take home more than just memories on their next Moroccan adventure, contact Morocco by Travelive at [email protected] and help them take home a piece of its essence.
