Perfumer-Led Events, Beautiful in Front and Calm Behind the Scenes
Perfumer-led events start with a simple idea: the person designing your bar should know perfume from the inside. Glitters and Grace was built that way. Every fragrance is composed and made by hand in our New Lenox lab, and every event runs on a clear, careful plan.
We believe luxury should feel as smooth behind the scenes as it looks in the photos. So planners, parents and venues can relax while guests enjoy the moment.
- Trained perfumer
- Made in our New Lenox lab
- 5 to 5,000 guests
- Reply in two business days
What perfumer-led events mean for your guests
A perfume bar is only as good as what is in the bottles. Ours are built from absolutes, CO2 extracts and essential oils. In plain words, those are the concentrated natural extracts that perfumers use. Guests can smell the difference the moment they lift a test strip.
Each guest leaves with an eau de parfum, which means a perfume-strength spray, made at 50% fragrance material to perfumer's alcohol. It is one product, made well.
From guest flow and safety to the small things, like bottle labels and signage, we bring the same care, structure and creative intention to every event.
Blending starts from a base, the foundation a perfume is built on. Our six bases are floral, masculine, fresh, musk, sophisticated and gourmand, and signage suggests combinations for guests who would rather not decide from scratch.
Three pillars of every Glitters and Grace event
Every event is custom. The foundation never changes.
01 · Experience design
We design around how guests actually move and feel in your space, not only how it looks in a flat lay. That means choosing the right bar format, staffing and layout for your timeline, venue and guest count, from 5 guests to 5,000. Compare the perfume bars
02 · Operational excellence
Clear communication, exact timelines and thoughtful logistics are part of every booking. We coordinate with planners and venues, plan for guest flow and bring backup materials, so the event stays smooth even when the schedule or the weather does not.
03 · Guest empowerment
Our team guides guests of every age and comfort level. We make room for creativity without pressure, adapting for kids, teens, adults and VIP groups, so everyone leaves with something they love.
Timing that protects your plans
Most Saturdays book six to eight weeks ahead, and May, September, December and weddings need longer. If your date is closer than that, reach out anyway. We have a large team of hosts and can often fit you in on short notice.
Meet the perfumer behind Glitters and Grace
Cheryl Gleason is the Owner, Perfumer and Creative Director of Glitters and Grace. She is a trained perfumer and a cosmetic and skincare formulator. She studied perfumery with master perfumer and educator Karen Gilbert and at the Institute for Art and Olfaction in Los Angeles, and she keeps learning through workshops, classes and retreats.
Her background also includes enterprise customer experience, luxury event design and high-volume program management. That mix of artistry and structure shows up everywhere, from the fragrance palette to the guest line to the final cleanup.
Cheryl pays close attention to every bottle, label and guest moment. The goal is simple: events that feel magical for guests and easy for the people planning them. You can read more on our about page.
What our process includes
- A pre-event conversation. We align on guest count, pacing and bar format before anything is packed.
- A fragrance palette for your event. Scents and materials are chosen for your crowd and your theme.
- Planner and venue coordination. We confirm load-in, setup and placement. Certificates of insurance naming your venue are available.
- A trained team on site. Hosts manage blending, safety and guest flow from the first guest to the last.
- A respectful breakdown. We pack out and clean up in a way that respects your venue and your timeline.
Who we serve
We partner with planners, venues, families and brands across Chicagoland, greater Milwaukee and the Indianapolis metro.
Weddings
Romantic perfume bars for receptions, showers and rehearsal dinners. See our wedding perfume bars.
Kids and teen celebrations
Ages 5 and up, with background-checked female hosts trained to work with children and age-appropriate formulas.
Mitzvahs and private events
Family celebrations where grandparents and teens enjoy the same bar.
Corporate events and brand activations
Hands-on experiences for teams, clients and launches. Explore our corporate events.
Hotel and venue partners
A reliable vendor who respects your rules, your staff and your floor plan.
How booking works
- Share the basics. Send your date, venue, rough guest count and occasion through the booking form.
- Receive a clear proposal. We reply within two business days with an itemized proposal, free and with no obligation.
- Sign and confirm your count. After the contract is signed, the guest count can go up but not down, so book your lowest expected count.
- Know who is coming. A week before, you receive host details and arrival time.
- Enjoy the event. The team arrives one hour before start time, hosts every guest, then packs out and cleans up.
Glitters and Grace was founded by Cheryl Gleason, a trained perfumer and cosmetic and skincare formulator. Every perfume, lip color and skincare base is made by hand in our New Lenox lab. Meet the founder.
Questions about how we work
Who creates the fragrances?
Cheryl Gleason, a trained perfumer, leads the work, and every fragrance is made by hand in our New Lenox lab.
What materials do you use?
Absolutes, CO2 extracts and essential oils, the concentrated natural extracts perfumers use.
How big an event can you handle?
We serve events from 5 to 5,000 guests and scale hosts and stations to the room.
How far ahead should we book?
Six to eight weeks for most Saturdays, and longer for May, September, December and weddings. If your date is sooner, reach out anyway. We have a large team of hosts and can often fit you in on short notice.
Where do you travel?
Chicagoland is home base, and we also serve greater Milwaukee and the Indianapolis metro with no travel fees. Larger events beyond those areas are quoted in advance.
What does it cost?
Adult and corporate events start at $500, and kids parties start at $475. See our pricing page for details.
Let's design your event together
Whether you have a full creative team or a blank page, we will help you choose the right experience and bar format. Share your date, guest count and vision, and we will take it from there.
perfume@glittersandgrace.com · 815.418.6740
With Grace,
Cheryl Gleason · Owner, Perfumer & Creative Director
Prefer to text? 815.418.6740 · or email us