Very interesting museum, but at the moment, not sure about the value for the price. Especially since they continue to require masks and cost for entry for 3 people was $84. It is a museum of "curious scents" yet in the main room, you are being asked to smell objects through your mask. Ridiculous!!! Granted, the museum has placed 2 smelling stations in their garden where you have the opportunity to experience many of the scents but for objects in the main space, you have to play "hide and sniff". Museum requires proof of vaccination, and nowadays chances of dying from heart attack or other illness are greater than croaking from covid, yet when I asked the owner, "When can I come to museum without a mask?", she responded, "Never!". Sadly covid caused permanent psychosis in too many people.

Aftel Archive was amazing! Truly a personalized and intimate experience from beginning to end.. the owner, Mandy Aftel, was incredibly hospitable and educated us on the process and intracacies of perfume-making. Will definitely visit when in town again!

A wonderful and absolutely unique sensory experience! The archive includes a large number of experiential elements, from containers of raw materials (sourced from travels all over the world), to over 300 natural scents to smell and test. Very eye-opening; highly recommend!

This is such an amazing sensory experience. You can smell new versus 100-year old scents of the same material, eat chocolate prayed with your selection of tasting scent, and take home a few dipped paper scents of your own. Totally cool and fascinating experience

This is a very cool experience. I've never been to a museum quite like it. There's the history of perfumes, some fascinating specimen from around the world and even some great old books about the distilling, processing and manufacture of scents. If you want to ask the polite docents about stuff, they're super helpful. If you want to be open ended and just explore on your own, you can do that too. This would be an amazing date.

Had a wonderful time visiting the Aftel Archive of Curious Scents. Having the opportunity to have a sensory experience unlike any other museum, where we got to smell the notes and chords that make up a perfume, to be able to notice the subtle and not so subtle way artificial scents differ from their natural counterparts. And certainly not to be forgotten, the chance to smell natural/animal scents such as ambergris and musk. Where else do you, as an adult, get to have new sensory experiences that make you feel like a child discovering the way your senses work?!? Everything was thoughtfully prepared and curated and the Aftel family was extremely courteous and welcoming.

A deceptively small museum, Aftel Archive is jam-packed with not just scents but also compendiums of information, stored in ancient tomes and the wonderful family's brain! Mandy is incredible - so knowledgeable and sweet - and this is overall an educational, intimate, and wondrous experience.

The Aftel Archive of Curious Scents is an amazing place to visit. I wished I had booked more than one hour to spend even more time with all of the beautiful, interesting and carefully curated exhibits. There is so much to smell and see, and the perfumer and her son are welcoming and knowledgeable guides. If you are even slightly interested in fragrance, chances are you will enjoy it - there are rare scents you've likely never smelled before, and common scents like rose deconstructed into its constituent elements. I highly recommend a visit, and I'll likely be back!

I read The Emperor of Scent a few years back, and I was amazed that such a place exists here in the east bay. The passages came to life as I made my way around to some of the extinct aromas or forbiddenly expensive perfume ingredients I had read about in the book! The owner is also the author of several books, which you can purchase at the museum as well. It was a pleasure speaking to her and some of the tourists. We met a couple from Canada that came specifically to visit this museum!!

Sensory overload in a good way. SO many rare scents, found smells from flowers I didn't even know existed. The ylang concrete is on another level.

One of the best ways to spend an hour in Berkeley.

What a wonderful place! I learned SO much. It literally changed me ...I know, sounds weird. Well if you love to smell things please go here. Also meeting Mandy Aftel was the topper of the day!

A gem in the neighborhood. Mostly a self-guided tour, with lots of antiques to admire, hundreds of scents to explore and experience, and the hosts are excellent and welcoming. A must visit if you are in the area.

A fascinating museum and sensory experience. I loved learning about the history of aromatherapy and perfumery, as well as smelling EVERYTHING! My favorite parts were the cabinets full of raw materials that you could smell and touch, as well the animal essences section (although I hope I never have to smell hyraceum ever again!) They also have an astounding collection of old botanical books. Can't wait to come again!