October date perfume workshop in Bukchon: recipe remake at Muhwawon

What if the time we spent together one October day could be remembered as a scent?

My boyfriend and I tried making perfume for the first time at Muhwawon Bukchon Perfume Workshop (무화원 북촌향수공방). It was my first time at a perfume workshop, and I'd really recommend this date to any couple who hasn't tried it yet. You get to keep a perfume the two of you made, and every time you smell it, you'll remember making it together.

Where is Muhwawon Bukchon Perfume Workshop, and where do you park?

Muhwawon Bukchon Perfume Workshop is at 23 Yulgok-ro 6-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the 3rd floor, and it's open daily 12:00–22:00. The one-day class is listed at about 90 minutes, and it's within walking distance of Anguk Station, so it's easy to build a Bukchon date around it with a stroll nearby.

For parking, the workshop's official guidance points to the Kakao T Changdeokgung No. 1 parking lot. It's at 97 Unni-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, with a listed rate of ₩1,200 per 10 minutes and ₩25,000 for the day. Please check the latest rates on site.

How does the premium 50ml perfume class for two work?

We did the premium 50ml perfume class for two at Muhwawon.

You think about the scent you want, blend it yourself, and finish it as your very own perfume.

Usually I'd sniff finished perfumes and pick one I liked, so being able to create the scent I wanted this time felt special.

The class actually starts with thinking about what kind of mood you like in a scent.

A workshop space that was pretty from the start

The workshop space itself is lovely, so I was happy just being there before the class even began.

Sitting side by side with my boyfriend, choosing and blending scents, felt different from our usual dates.

It wasn't only about taking home a finished product. Focusing on something together was part of what made this Bukchon date memorable.

Can you follow along if you know nothing about perfumery?

At Muhwawon, you tell the professional perfumer the scent you want to make, and they set the direction and help with adjustments, so it wasn't hard even with zero knowledge. At first I had no idea how to mix scents at all.

Saying which scent you like and actually making it are two different things, right? But once I described what I wanted, the perfumer helped set the direction and fix things, so it was easier than I expected.

I liked that I didn't need any technical vocabulary. I could just describe the feeling I wanted and we adjusted together.

I even learned a little about perfumery.

I used to think of perfume as simply a product that smells nice, but after making one myself, looking at scents became more fun.

Since I enjoyed it as a total beginner, I think anyone who's unfamiliar with perfume making can try it without worry.

Getting closer to the scent you want in three rounds

At Muhwawon you work toward the scent you want through three rounds of blending: 1st, 2nd and 3rd. It's not a one-mix-and-done thing. You check the scent and adjust it step by step.

If something differed from the scent I had in mind, I could talk it over with the perfumer and tweak it little by little.

Bring your blending note and they can remake the same recipe

Another thing I liked: they told us that if you bring back your blending note (the recipe sheet), they'll make the same perfume again later. Once you finish a scent you love, you'd be sad when it runs out, so I was glad to hear it can be remade. I'm going to keep my blending note safe so I can remember this perfume for a long time.

Instead of agonizing alone over how to change it, I had an expert's help, so getting to the scent I wanted was fun rather than hard.

Watching the scent in my head slowly come together was what stood out most from this date.

A pretty bottle makes the perfume even more special

Finishing the scent at Muhwawon was fun, but the empty bottle that holds the finished perfume was pretty too, so I was happy right to the end.

Seeing the scent I made finished as a real perfume made me even more attached to it.

Doing it together and each leaving with our own perfume made it a great couples date.

It would be nice for an anniversary, but I think it works on an ordinary day too. For us, one October day is now remembered as the day we made these perfumes :)

A Naver review event with a car air freshener

When I visited Muhwawon Bukchon Perfume Workshop, they were running an event where you get a mini car air freshener if you write a Naver review.

Getting a car air freshener on top of the perfume class made the whole experience feel even more generous. Events can change, so check whether it's still running when you visit.

A scent that will remind us of our October

As my first perfume workshop, Muhwawon left me with a meaningful memory. The space and the bottle were pretty, but the best part was turning the time with my boyfriend into a scent we made ourselves. When I spray this perfume later, I think I'll remember us wondering which scent to create and fixing it with the perfumer.

If you're a couple who hasn't tried making perfume yet, I hope you'll try it at least once. A date at Muhwawon Bukchon Perfume Workshop, keeping your memories together as a scent, was a time we'll want to remember for a long while :)