Vienna: KuK Perfumery Filz – Viennese Perfume Tasting

Vienna’s old perfume trade comes alive over a coffee rather than behind a museum case. At the former KuK Perfumery Filz, you hear how an imperial perfumery served the emperor and empress, then test traditional scents linked to that 214-year-old business. Herr Filz Senior, also known as Alfred in English-language comments, leads many sessions with charm and a storehouse of family stories.

I like the small group of no more than 10 people, which gives you room to ask questions, and I like the simple pleasure of a coffeehouse setting with a drink included. The main thing to know is that this is more of a seated historical talk with perfume samples than a hands-on tour of an operating perfumery. If you expect laboratories, shelves of bottles, or a long walk through Vienna, adjust your plans.

Key points before you book

• Three old Viennese fragrance samples: You test traditional scents that have been around for more than 200 years.
• The Filz family story: The former KuK Perfumery Filz served Vienna’s imperial court before closing after 214 years.
• Coffeehouse setting: The experience takes place in Vienna’s oldest coffee house, with a coffee or drink included.
• A guide with a personal link: Herr Filz Senior presents the family history, often in German and English.
• A small perfume to take home: Your booking includes a traditional Viennese fragrance souvenir.
• Best for history and perfume fans: The focus is storytelling and scent, not a conventional walking tour.

Why this perfume tasting feels different from a standard Vienna tour

Most city tours point you toward palaces, churches, and grand streets. This one asks you to sit down and pay attention to something less visible: the smell of old Vienna. Perfume was part of court life, social habits, and personal style, and the Filz family story gives that subject a human face.

The experience centers on the former KuK Perfumery Filz, which operated for 214 years and catered exclusively to the emperor and empress. The business has closed, so you are not touring a working shop. Instead, you hear how fragrances were made around two centuries ago and how old formulas and traditions are being carried forward by the family.

That distinction matters. The appeal is not a grand display or a procession through historic rooms. It is the chance to listen to a family representative explain the business, the scents, and the world around them. I find that format especially useful in Vienna, where a short conversation can add texture to the imperial buildings you see elsewhere in the city.

Meeting Herr Filz in Vienna’s oldest coffee house

You enter the café and ask for the tasting experience. The café setting is central to the event, not just a place to wait before the real tour begins. You sit with your group, order a coffee or another drink, and listen as the story unfolds.

Herr Filz Senior has received especially warm praise for his polite manner, clear storytelling, and ability to answer questions after the scheduled time. He has also presented in German while speaking excellent English for another participant, which is helpful if your group uses both languages.

The coffeehouse atmosphere gives the session an easy, unhurried feel. It also explains why some people find the activity different from what they expected. One booking account described it as simply a café conversation lasting longer than an hour, while another found the café format enjoyable despite being unexpected.

So, go in ready for a conversation. The setting is comfortable, but it is not designed as a theatrical perfume show. You will not be moving from room to room or watching a perfume being blended from scratch.

The story of a 214-year-old imperial perfumery

The first part of the talk explains the role of perfume in Vienna during the emperor’s time. You learn how people produced fragrances about 200 years ago, what sorts of secret ingredients were important, and why the former Filz business had such a special place in Viennese society.

The imperial connection gives the subject focus. This was not simply a modern fragrance shop with a royal name attached to it. The perfumery exclusively served the emperor and empress, making its products part of the personal world surrounding the court.

The session also explores what Empress Sisi may have smelled like. The question is a useful doorway into the past because scent is personal in a way that architecture is not. A palace tells you where people lived. A fragrance suggests how they wanted to feel, appear, or be remembered.

You should expect more family and business history than a broad survey of European perfume. One four-star assessment specifically found that the talk leaned toward the history of Filz rather than a full perfume experience. I would consider that a fair warning, especially if you are booking because you want detailed instruction in fragrance composition.

Testing the emperor’s fragrances and three old classics

The tasting portion brings out samples of three traditional fragrances. These are described as Viennese classics that have existed for more than 200 years, and the session connects them with the former Filz perfumery and the imperial household.

You test each scent while hearing about its background and secret ingredients. This is not a technical perfume workshop, so do not expect to build your own blend or receive a formal lesson in fragrance notes. Instead, the value comes from linking the smell to a specific time and place.

The word tasting can sound slightly misleading in English. You are sampling the fragrances with your sense of smell, not drinking perfume. The format lets you compare the old scents as the guide explains their place in Viennese life.

This is the point where the activity becomes most personal. A palace lecture can stay abstract, but a scent gives you an immediate response. You may love one fragrance, dislike another, or find that an old-fashioned formula smells very different from modern perfume.

The three formulas are also being sold again by Herr Filz’s grandchildren. That gives the experience a living connection to the family rather than making it only a story about a closed business.

The souvenir perfume and what it adds to the price

A small traditional Viennese perfume is included as a souvenir. It is a modest extra, but it improves the value because you can revisit the experience after leaving the café. A scent can bring back a place more quickly than a printed card or another small trinket.

The price is $35 per person. For 45 minutes, that is not the cheapest coffee in Vienna, but you are paying for a guide, the perfume samples, the family story, a drink, and the take-home fragrance. If you value small, unusual cultural experiences, the price is reasonable.

The calculation changes if you want a full perfume-making lesson. The session does not promise that. You are paying for access to a story and a tasting led by someone connected to the Filz name, not for a bottle you design yourself or a long workshop.

The short length can also be a benefit. You can fit it between central Vienna sights without giving up half a day. The advertised duration is 45 minutes, though one account found the conversation lasted longer than an hour. If you have a tightly timed museum reservation afterward, leave extra room.

Why the small group matters

The group is limited to 10 participants. That is a good size for a café conversation, particularly when the subject involves smelling samples and asking questions.

A large group would make the format less personal. With 10 or fewer people, you have a better chance of hearing the guide clearly, examining the samples, and asking about the Filz family or Viennese perfume traditions.

The small size does not turn the event into private service. You are still sharing the table and the guide’s attention. But it helps preserve the quiet, conversational quality that makes this experience different from a standard city excursion.

A separate entrance is listed for skipping the line, and the activity is wheelchair accessible. You should still enter the café and ask for the tasting when you arrive. German and English are the available guide languages.

What you will not see

It is worth setting limits on your expectations. The former Filz perfumery has closed, so this is not a visit to an active shop with workers mixing new products in front of you. The meeting point is the café, and the core activity is a guided talk with samples.

You also will not get a broad tour of Vienna’s perfume shops. The focus stays on the Filz family, imperial fragrance traditions, Sisi, and the old formulas.

That narrow focus is either the strength or weakness of the activity. I like it because the story has a clear center. You spend less time on general facts and more time with one Viennese business and its connection to court life.

If you are hoping for a polished production with many scent stations, this may feel too informal. If you enjoy a local story told by a family member, the café setting can feel much more authentic than a staged attraction.

The best fit for perfume fans and curious history lovers

I would recommend this most strongly to people who enjoy perfume, royal history, and traditional cafés. It also suits repeat visitors who have already seen Vienna’s major palaces and want a quieter activity with a very specific local subject.

The session works well for couples, solo visitors, and small groups who like asking questions. The limited group size and included drink make it easy to settle in without committing to a long tour.

Families with children may find the subject less engaging if younger members are not interested in scents or historical storytelling. The café setting is calm and seated, but the activity depends on listening.

It is also a good choice for anyone who wants a souvenir with a story. The small perfume is not just something picked up from a shop shelf. It connects to the old Viennese fragrance tradition explained during the session.

Practical details for fitting it into your day

The advertised duration is 45 minutes, and you should check the available starting times when booking. Since the experience can run beyond the scheduled length, avoid placing it immediately before a train, timed palace entry, or airport transfer.

You can cancel up to 24 hours ahead for a full refund, and the reserve-now, pay-later option keeps your plans flexible. The activity is wheelchair accessible, and the guide languages are German and English.

At the café, ask for the tasting rather than waiting for a guide to find you. The meeting instructions are simple, but this is not a large tour with a visible street-side group.

The experience provider is mal anders gmbh. The booking price is $35 per person, with the guided tasting, one coffee or drink, and a small surprise souvenir included.

Should you book the KuK Perfumery Filz tasting?

Book it if you want a compact, personal story about imperial Vienna and you enjoy trying historic fragrances in a traditional coffeehouse. Herr Filz Senior’s charm and family connection appear to be a major part of the appeal, and the included drink makes the 35-dollar price easier to justify.

Skip it if your idea of a perfume tour means a working laboratory, extensive scent instruction, or a busy route through several locations. The experience is best understood as a historical coffeehouse talk with three fragrance samples and a souvenir.

For the right audience, that is plenty. Vienna has no shortage of grand sights, but a conversation about what the emperor and Sisi smelled like can add an unusual, intimate detail to the city’s imperial story.

FAQ

Where does the Viennese perfume tasting take place?

It takes place in Vienna’s oldest coffee house. Enter the café and ask for the tasting experience.

How long does the activity last?

The advertised duration is 45 minutes. One account found the conversation lasted longer than an hour, so leave some extra time if you have another timed plan.

What is included in the price?

The booking includes a guided perfume tasting, a coffee or drink of your choice, and a small perfume souvenir.

Which fragrances will I sample?

You will test the emperor’s fragrances and other traditional Viennese fragrances. The session includes samples of three old fragrance classics connected with the former Filz perfumery.

Is the former KuK Perfumery Filz still open?

No. The former Filz perfumery closed its doors after 214 years. The activity explains its history and presents traditional fragrances connected with the business.

What languages are available?

The live guide is available in German and English.

Is the activity wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the activity is listed as wheelchair accessible.