Perfume workshop near Changdeokgung: less-sweet, fresh EDP at Muhwawon

I really love perfume, and whenever I go to a department store I always start by sniffing the testers. Then it hit me: what if I made a perfume just the way I like it? So this time I wanted to try something a little special and visited Muhwawon (무화원), a well-known perfume workshop in Bukchon!

A recommended one-day class in Seoul: Muhwawon, a Bukchon perfume workshop near Changdeokgung for an unusual date

Where is Muhwawon Bukchon Perfume Workshop?

Muhwawon Perfume Workshop is on the 3rd floor of a building on Yulgok-ro 6-gil in Jongno, Seoul, an easy walk from Anguk Station. Changdeokgung and Bukchon Hanok Village are close, so it's great for a stroll, and you can carry on to Ikseon-dong or Insa-dong afterwards.

We booked ahead, and when we went up to the 3rd floor a soft scent greeted us. The whole space felt clean and warm, and with gentle music playing it was a calm place to do the class, which I loved.

What can you make at Muhwawon, and how long does it take?

At Muhwawon you can make not only EDP 12% perfume but also a car air freshener and a diffuser. I did perfume, which I was most interested in. It took about 1 hour 30 minutes, and the time flew by much faster than I expected.

Can beginners make perfume at Muhwawon?

Each seat was neatly set up with everything needed: a precision scale, beakers, droppers, scent strips and perfume bottles. You get the basics through a tablet and headset, so even people with no blending experience can start without worry.

After the explanation, I first chose the mood of the scent I wanted to make. It was a moment to think: fresh, cozy or sweet? Even just that was quite fun.

What makes Muhwawon's scent ingredients different?

Muhwawon had lots of ingredients that reinterpret the feel of Korean nature in a modern way, such as hanji (traditional Korean paper), herbal medicine and temple incense. They're scents you can hardly find at other perfume workshops, so once the real sniffing began, smelling them one by one was a joy!

How do you adjust the blend ratios with the perfumer?

After picking a few scents I liked, I worked out the ratios with Muhwawon's professional perfumer. It isn't about following a fixed recipe; you keep talking about the feel you want and build it together, which made it feel even more like my very own perfume. So fun!

When I said something like, "I'd like it a little less sweet, with some freshness added," the perfumer adjusted the ratios. Getting closer to the scent I wanted with small tweaks was really enjoyable.

Making the final perfume after three test blends

After three tests, I made the actual perfume with the ratio I liked best. As I measured each ingredient into the beaker, even tiny differences can change the scent, so I concentrated hard.

Naming the perfume, the label and the packaging

Finally, I could name the perfume myself, and they made a label with the wording I wanted and stuck it on. The Muhwawon bottle design is clean and the packaging felt premium.

When can you start wearing your finished perfume?

Perfume made at Muhwawon can be worn from 2 weeks later, so I'm looking forward to that. The staff also helped kindly from start to finish, so I felt relaxed, and they explained the scents one by one, so it was fun to learn too.

So whether you already love perfume, want to make a special memory with your partner, or want a slightly different date in Bukchon, I really recommend spending time creating your own scent at Muhwawon, the Bukchon perfume workshop!