Taller de Aromaterapia / Jardín Botánico de Santa Sofía

One can learn about the culture and history of Turkey firsthand. Experience the hospitality in this country.

We had such a wonderful time at the workshop!! The atmosphere was amazing and inspiring. It was a very special place and truly local (not commercialized / touristic like other Workshops we went to). If you want an authentic experience absolute must do! Buğra and his lovely mother are amazing hosts. It was a fun workshop and we learned many things about destilation and Istanbul. The lavendar water and rose water smell amazing. We also got lavendar oil ✨️ We got so many gifts, tea, fresh coffee, fruit. We felt so welcomed and cared for, this was the best gift. The tour through the little Hagia Sophia Mosque was a great finish. Would recommend it if you want something special and good memories to go home with

I learned a massage at an aroma school 20 years ago, and it was interesting to actually experience the distillation method I had heard from the teacher at the time. We had tea and water, handmade soap, four-leaf clover and distilled aromatic water. He also explained the Mini Hagia Sophia. I think it will be a good experience for the aromatherapist. Thank you very much.

Amazing experience, nestled away in the lush green garden courtyard of the little Aya Sofia mosque. The experience was run by Captain Bugra whose love of his new trade is visible. He will retell his experience of being a captain, a hotelier before terrorist attacks in Istanbul which led to a change of career and his place in the future centre where this activity runs. As we sat in the courtyard with the call to prayer, the chickens out on the grass and the sweet smell of the distilling essential oils from the fragrant lavender the experience was beautiful and away from the hustle and bustle of the main tourist attractions. You will also receive a hot drink and a home made soap. We were lucky enough to be present for a monthly Sufi gathering and enjoyed listening to their collective prayers.

One of the true highlights of our time in Istanbul. I highly recommend this! Bugra’s steam-distillation workshop at Little Hagia Sophia was hands-down one of the best times of our trip. From the moment we met over a perfectly foamy Turkish coffee, he made us feel like old friends rather than tour guests. Before we even lit the still, he gave us a mini walking tour—sharing the mosque’s layered history, pointing out hidden architectural quirks, and introducing us to the artists who now fill the courtyard with color and music. Back in the workshop we traded coffee cups for tea glasses and got down to business: 400 g of fresh lavender went into the copper still, and—like magic—about 400 mL of beautifully fragrant lavender water plus a precious 10 mL of pure oil came out. Bugra’s explanations were clear, nerdy in the best way, and sprinkled with fun stories. We left loaded down with goodies: two dainty bottles of lavender hydrosol, another of the pure oiil, a bar each of rose and lavender soap, and matching glass evil-eye charms that will definitely get prime shelf space at home. It was an intimate, hands-on experience that felt equal parts science lesson, history class, and afternoon hangout with a friend. If you’re even remotely curious about essential oils—or just want a truly authentic Istanbul memory—book this workshop. Bugra’s passion is contagious and you’ll walk away smelling amazing!

The steam distillation workshop at Little Hagia Sophia in Istanbul was a wonderful experience! The combination of traditional atmosphere and practical application made learning particularly inspiring. The instructor was very competent and friendly, and you could learn a lot about extracting essential oils. The authentic surroundings and the loving design of the workshop were particularly impressive. I can highly recommend the participation!

Among all the shops in the premises, this one prevails over the others. What they can do with the natural ingredients and special recipe is amazing indeed.

非常漂亮舒服的花园，这里是远离游客区的一片安静的地方，你可以在这里享受一杯茶，而且价格比其他地方都便宜，院子里还有甜美的枇杷树，这片区域现在是一些艺术家和手工艺人的工作室，也是非常意外的发现！这片区域的历史也很久了，以前就被称为学者巷 The garden is very beautiful and comfortable. This is a quiet place far from the tourist area. You can enjoy a cup of tea here, and the price is cheaper than other places. There are also sweet loquat trees in the yard. This area is now the studios of some artists and craftsmen, which is also a very unexpected discovery! This area has a long history. It used to be known as Scholar's Lane.

Bura is amazing , the school and mosque beautiful and full of history, beautiful people, light and a lot of love in what they do. Memorable.

Captain Burgo was EXCELLENT! he was very excited preparing and showing us the technique process of fussing lavender into essential oil. He also did a great job explaining the history of Little Hagia Sophia prior to the aromatic presentation. I sincerely recommend this tour which focuses more on health and cleansing of the body and mind.