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PerfuMate vs The Perfumer's Workbook

PerfuMate brings 2,211 described materials, live indicative IFRA checking, an interactive scent profile and drydown, shelf-based substitutes, formula editing and batch work into one browser workspace for independent perfumers. Unlimited adds branching version history, and optional AI Studio helps you ask about and build formulas from your own shelf.

Choose PerfuMate for a connected formula workflow. Start free, then compare The Perfumer's Workbook's published offering below.

Why choose PerfuMate for your daily formula work?

Start free with no account. A free account keeps unlimited shelf materials and three formulas; view the plan limits and paid options.

PerfuMateThe Perfumer's Workbook
What it isA browser workspace for independent perfumers: described materials, formulation, scent analysis, live indicative IFRA checks, optional shelf-grounded AI and batch workDesktop formula-writing software from PerfumersWorld "aimed at the professional perfumer, flavourist or trainee", built on its ABCs of Perfumery odor classification
Ships with a materials databaseYes. 2,211 materials, each described and classified: odor description, olfactive families with percentage dominance, impact and substantivity, a CAS number where one exists (1,642; a compounded base has none to give), plus estimated constituent tables for 739Yes: 625 materials on the Registered edition, which you can extend, and 10,000+ records covering 3,000+ materials on Professional; CAS numbers not stated
IFRA checking and scopeChecked live while composing, on every tier including free, and it counts one molecule arriving from several naturals at once. Category 4 (fine fragrance on skin), 51st Amendment, indicative: verify against the official standards before you sellNot stated for the Workbook; PerfumersWorld sells an online IFRA checker in a separate browser product
Formula workDilution-aware milligram scaling and costing, guided weighing with actual-pour adjustment, stock deductions, batch and maceration tracking, shelf-based substitutes, and branching version history with diffs and restore (Unlimited)Real-time costing and formula writing; a stock-usage module is optional on Professional; versions and batches not stated
Scent analysis and drydownInteractive family and sub-note profile, amount and impact views, and a modeled drydown timeline. Estimates, not a substitute for smelling a trialNot assessed in this review: the page describes a visual display of odor characteristics and a predicted odor at each stage of evaporation
AI assistance and contextOptional AI Studio: Ask about materials or attached formulas, Build from your own shelf, and refine formulas. Shelf context and server-side formula checks; AI usage uses separate creditsNot assessed in this review
Import and exportImport from PDF, CSV, TSV or pasted text; export PDF, EU allergen declaration, INCI label, GHS SDS draftExports formulas to Excel, Word or Notepad; import not stated
Runs onAny browser, desktop or phone, and installs as an app; an Android app on Google Play; no native iPhone appWindows or Mac, as a desktop download that can run from a USB drive
Price to startPerfuMate: free with no expiry. A free account holds unlimited materials and 3 formulas, with the whole catalog, indicative IFRA checking, allergen and INCI label text, the scent profile and drydown. Bottle labels, the pack that contains them, color PDF themes and formula version history are paid. On the free plan each formula exports once; full backups are always free. PerfuMate's paid plan is $12.90 a month, $68.00 a year or $119.98 once. Monthly and yearly renew until canceled; Lifetime is a one-time purchase. Optional AI usage uses separate creditsThe Perfumer's Workbook: a free version; Registered US$159 per user, included with PerfumersWorld's training kit or 5-day workshop and recommended for students; Professional US$5,000 per user

When PerfuMate is the better choice

  • You want IFRA checked while you compose: PerfuMate checks Category 4 under the 51st Amendment on every tier; the Workbook's page does not state IFRA checking.
  • You want a large described catalog on the free tier: 2,211 materials with odor, families, impact and substantivity. The Workbook's Registered edition carries 625, and 3,000+ materials come with Professional.
  • You work on a phone or an Android tablet as well as a computer: PerfuMate runs in any browser and as an Android app, with your formulas synced when you sign in.

What The Perfumer's Workbook emphasizes

  • You study with PerfumersWorld: the Registered edition comes with its Perfumery Training Kit or 5-day workshop. Source
  • You think in the ABCs of Perfumery, its 26 odor groups, and want software built on that system, with a visual display of odor characteristics. Source
  • You want desktop software on Windows or Mac that can run from a USB drive. Source

Moving from The Perfumer's Workbook to PerfuMate

The Workbook exports a formula to Excel, Word or Notepad. Save it as .xlsx or CSV, or copy the lines as text, and import into PerfuMate; each material is matched against the catalog, and you confirm the matches before saving. Import a formula, free.

Questions

How much does The Perfumer's Workbook cost?

PerfumersWorld lists a free version, the Registered edition at US$159 per user (included with its training kit or 5-day workshop) and the Professional edition at US$5,000 per user. PerfuMate's paid plan is $12.90 a month, $68.00 a year or $119.98 once.

Does The Perfumer's Workbook check IFRA limits?

Its page does not state IFRA checking for the Workbook; PerfumersWorld sells an online IFRA checker in a separate browser product. PerfuMate's indicative IFRA check (Category 4, 51st Amendment) runs while you compose, on every tier.

Does The Perfumer's Workbook run on a Mac?

Yes: PerfumersWorld lists it for Windows or Mac, as a desktop download that can run from a USB drive. PerfuMate runs in any browser and has an Android app on Google Play.

Sources

Read on 2026-10-14: The Perfumer's Workbook page, PerfumersWorld software and prices, The ABCs of Perfumery.

What is the difference between PerfuMate and The Perfumer's Workbook?

PerfuMate brings 2,211 described materials, live indicative IFRA checking, an interactive scent profile and drydown, shelf-based substitutes, formula editing and batch work into one browser workspace for independent perfumers. Unlimited adds branching version history, and optional AI Studio helps you ask about and build formulas from your own shelf. The Perfumer's Workbook is PerfumersWorld's desktop formula software for Windows and Mac, built around its ABCs of Perfumery odor system, with a free version, a US$159 Registered edition for students and a US$5,000 Professional edition. IFRA checking is not stated for the Workbook. PerfuMate runs in any browser and on Android and checks IFRA Category 4 while you compose. PerfuMate's paid plan is $12.90 a month, $68.00 a year or $119.98 once. AI usage uses separate credits. Competitor details are vendor-published claims reviewed on 2026-10-14, not independent test results.

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This is PerfuMate's own product comparison. Our recommendation is based on the connected workflow demonstrated in our app and guides. Competitor entries summarize their published descriptions, reviewed between 2026-10-06 and 2026-10-14, not hands-on test results. Not assessed means this review has not established a capability, not that the product lacks it. A larger entry count alone does not establish data quality, coverage or formulation usefulness. Sources for The Perfumer's Workbook, read 2026-10-14: The Perfumer's Workbook page, PerfumersWorld software and prices, The ABCs of Perfumery. PerfuMate's catalog counts come from the material seed the app ships. Wrong or out of date? Tell us.