AVAILABLE FOR BOOKING SOON
May 6th – 10th 2027
Perfumery • Papermaking • Calligraphy
A four-day retreat on the Greek island of Andros, devoted to the beauty of nature and everything it gives to the senses. This spring, PORCELAIN and Mèlisses invite a small group to slow down, work with their hands and rediscover the quiet pleasure of craftsmanship: natural perfume, handmade paper and the old art of calligraphy, guided by makers who have given their lives to them.
This is a retreat for dreamers, and for anyone who longs for a little more beauty and a little more time.
With Stine Hoff, natural perfumer and founder of PORCELAIN, you enter the world of natural perfumery. It begins with the senses. You explore a curated selection of all-natural raw materials, from resins and woods to flowers and spices, and learn how each one lives, changes and unfolds on the skin. As you breathe in each scent, you and Stine talk about what it awakens: a place, a person, a season you thought you had forgotten. Slowly, those memories become the outline of your own signature scent, composed by hand and inspired by Andros in bloom. You leave with a perfume that is entirely yours, and with a new way of smelling the world.
With papermaker Gaia di Gioacchino, discarded paper is given a second life. It is pressed with fresh botanicals and natural dyes and left to dry in the Cycladic sun. With calligrapher Kate Ridyard, you learn calligraphy in its modern and ancestral forms, working slowly with quill, ink and fine gold leaf. Each craft asks for the same thing as perfume: patience, attention and curiosity.
On the final evening everything comes together. A class in art de la table becomes a last supper where scent, handmade paper and script share one table, and the week is celebrated with everyone who made it.
Spring is the island’s most beautiful season. The hills are green, rivers run through valleys of wild watercress and the air is full of pollen and musk. Your home for the week is Mèlisses, Allegra Pomilio’s house high above the sea, where every room has a sea view, with two saltwater infinity pools and private access to the water. The days follow the light rather than the clock, you swim before breakfast, spend the day exploring the senses and end the evening at a long table as the sun goes down.
Your stay, every meal, every session and every material is included. No experience is needed, only the wish to slow down.
Your hosts
Stine Hoff
Stine Hoff is a Danish natural perfumer who launched the Copenhagen-based natural perfume house PORCELAIN in 2020. The award-winning brand creates micro-batches of unique perfumes that are 100% natural, vegan, and gender-neutral. Stine Hoff has taught perfume masterclasses, workshops, and retreats internationally and is an ambassador of the slow beauty movement and its holistic approach.
Gaia di Gioacchino
Gaia di Gioacchino is a small-batch papermaker based in Ibiza, Spain. She specialises in Western-style sheet formation, with pulp made entirely from post-consumer waste. Her sheets are bold in colour and meticulously handcrafted, combining artistry with eco-conscious practice. Each new sheet reflects her commitment to turning waste into something new, celebrating the beauty of craftsmanship and a passion for keeping a traditional craft alive.
Kate Ridyard
Kate Ridyard is a London-based calligrapher and teacher. With an initial degree in Graphic Design, Kate further honed her craft by studying Calligraphy & Bookbinding at The Roehampton Institute, where world-renowned calligraphers, artists and craftspeople trained her. Currently, she is the go-to calligrapher for Petersham Nurseries; her studies and background cover all aspects of calligraphy, from analysing historical scripts to mastering traditional techniques used by medieval scribes, such as quill cutting, illumination and gilding with gold leaf.
Allegra Pomillo
Allegra Pomilio - Mèlisses’ founder and art director. Her knowledge of hospitality and gastronomy, combined with her photography and visual art skills, strikes the perfect balance on Andros. Born and raised in Abruzzo, Italy, Allegra opened Mèlisses at 24, creating a space for like-minded people to slow down, and seek visual inspiration. Featured in Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Condé Nast Traveller, and more, her second home became more than a simple hospitality venue but rather a cherished and sought-after creative retreat for travellers, creatives, epicures, and many more worldwide. Every year, with her team, she hosts curated gatherings focused on discovering the island's wonders, each time with a different perspective and with fresh eyes.
Connect with Nature and your Senses
Our main goals with the retreats are to create more headspace, slowing down and connection with nature and yourself. Wander through fragrant gardens, get lost in moments of quiet reflection, and discover the emotional power of scent that connects you to your memories.
Leave with a deeper understanding and appreciation of the art and science of perfumery. Whether you're a fragrance enthusiast or a curious newcomer, our retreats offer an unforgettable experience that will enrich your knowledge about the world of natural perfume.
Join us on a journey of scent discovery and unlock the secrets of natural perfumery with PORCELAIN.
A retreat in a beautiful country where the yoga classes and perfume making made the trip an experience I’ll never forget. The food and wine tasting gave the trip an extra feeling of joy and pleasure
Kristin
This retreat was a replenishment for all senses. It gave energy for the autumn season. I loved the place, the people and all the content. It was a delightful balance between activity and rest.
Ann Katrin
A lovely teacher - and fantastic to feel her passion … My eyes were opened for personal insight with people I didn’t know.
Anja
A mindblowing and beautiful experience that will linger in your bones forever
Majbritt
This was a long weekend of nourishment and fellowship in the tranquil Italian countryside. The yoga and meditation sessions were both challenging and comforting, providing an opportunity for contemplation and connection with new friends. This, coupled with Stine’s perfume-making course and incredible food and wine was a real sensory experience!
Rebecca
Come Away with Us
Twice a year, PORCELAIN host exclusive perfumery retreats around the world where perfume lovers from different places come together to explore the magical and transformative world of natural scents.
Our retreats consist of making your bespoke natural perfume and learning about the art and science of natural perfumery, from the origins of fragrance to the modern-day revival of natural scents.
Our venues and programmes differ, but the hotels are always luxurious, relaxing and earth-friendly.
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*This hotel was the location for 2023