Bukchon perfume workshop: Korean scent blending at Muhwawon

Today, I visited Muhwawon (무화원), a Korean-inspired perfume workshop near Anguk and Seosulla-gil in Jongno!

Rather than a typical niche perfume, I’d been wanting to make a rich scent that fully reflected my own taste. I heard Muhwawon was filled with distinctive materials capturing Korea’s nature and atmosphere, so I arrived with high expectations.

The space and interior

A restorative space where you immerse yourself with headphones

Walking along the stone-wall path by Changdeokgung Palace, you come upon Muhwawon. The sensory, beautiful interior caught my eye the moment I stepped inside. Traditional elements and a modern mood came together so neatly and cozily.

What was especially unique here was doing the class with headphones on, focusing on a video guide and gentle sounds! The instant I put them on, the surrounding noise disappeared, and I could focus entirely on my senses and the fragrances. It was pure healing. 🎧✨

It’s also close to Ikseon-dong, Seosulla-gil, and Bukchon Hanok Village, making it a perfect date stop in Jongno.

How does the perfume-making process work?

Step 1. Friendly, useful fragrance-blending guidance

Once you’re seated, the perfumer kindly explains the basics of perfume in an easy-to-understand way using Muhwawon’s guide notes.

• Fragrance concentration: Perfume is classified by the proportion of fragrance material it contains. Muhwawon’s base class makes an Eau de Parfum (8–15%), with a lingering, full-bodied wear.
• Note pyramid: The top note is what you notice during the first 30 minutes; the middle note is the central scent that lasts 4–8 hours; and the base note is the lingering foundation.
• I also learned fragrance-blending principles I’d never known before: the key accord that becomes the scent’s lead, modifiers that bring variation, harmonizers that connect everything smoothly, and fixatives that improve longevity. It was such an informative time! 💡

Step 2. Setting the scent mood and choosing materials

Next came the step of setting the mood for the fragrance I wanted to make. I smelled each of about 48 or more premium materials, one by one.

Muhwawon’s biggest draw was definitely its “SCENTS OF KOREA” line! I could freely combine deep, natural notes that made me feel calm with every breath, including hanji (traditional Korean paper), sumuk (ink wash), wild mountain grape, cedar, and seonhyang incense.

I chose “clear, neat warmth” as my concept: beginning with freshness, moving into fruity sweetness, then ending with subtle hanji and ink scents. These were the materials I picked!

The perfume notes I chose: TOP grapefruit, forest, bergamot / MIDDLE fig, orchid / BASE sumuk (ink wash), hanji

Step 3. Blending my own recipe

Using my chosen materials, I made samples over a first, second, and third round, subtly adjusting the proportions each time. It was so fascinating how the texture of the scent changed in such nuanced ways whenever I changed the number of drops!

The opening was fresh with grapefruit and forest intertwined; as time passed, the sweetness of fig and orchid bloomed; and finally, a quiet lingering trail of sumuk and hanji remained. Such perfect balance. 🥹✨

My personal perfume, finished with a label

Measure the ingredients precisely on a scale according to your recipe, then add a pretty label with the perfume name and date you chose yourself—and your very own perfume is complete!

The packaging and bottle design are neat and luxurious, so it would make a wonderful gift for yourself. It would be especially meaningful for couples or friends to make fragrances for each other, too. By the way, the finished perfume becomes much deeper and lovelier after maturing for about two weeks.

My honest visit verdict

• A healing session in a beautiful space with headphones on, where I could focus entirely on my own senses!
• The perfumer explained everything kindly and helped balance the blend so well—beginners will be more than satisfied, too!
• I was 200% satisfied to create an Eastern-style lingering scent with the hard-to-find combination of sumuk and hanji!

If you’re looking for an unusual, atmospheric indoor date near Bukchon or Seosulla-gil, definitely visit Muhwawon’s perfume workshop! 💚