# Weekend perfume workshop in Bukchon: hinoki EDP, car scent, Muhwawon

- By Small Find Hunter (https://superchart.com/en/@weekend-window-hunt/)
- Written Jun 18, 2026
- Local places › Things to do › Jongno, Seoul
- Sponsored: This visit was sponsored by the business.
- English edition: https://superchart.com/en/@weekend-window-hunt/bukchon-perfume-car-diffuser-workshop/
- Also in: [한국어](https://superchart.com/ko/@weekend-window-hunt/bukchon-perfume-car-diffuser-workshop/index.md)

## In short

Muhwawon Bukchon Perfume Workshop is a perfume-making studio on the 3rd floor of 23 Yulgok-ro 6-gil in Jongno, Seoul, near Anguk Station. On a weekend visit with a friend, the writer made a 50ml premium perfume (₩49,000) in a woody, soapy, forest mood by blending hinoki, hanji (Korean paper) and white musk, while the friend made a 120ml premium car freshener (₩59,000). Muhwawon is an indoor Bukchon activity where two people share one table yet each leave with exactly what they need.

## Good to know

- **Address**: 3rd floor, 23 Yulgok-ro 6-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul (about 410m from Anguk Station Exit 4)
- **Hours**: Daily 12:00–22:00
- **Premium perfume 50ml**: ₩49,000 (EDP, 12% fragrance concentration, gift box and paper bag included)
- **Premium car freshener 120ml**: ₩59,000 (20% fragrance concentration)
- **Premium diffuser 230ml**: ₩69,000
- **Parking**: Nearby public parking lots recommended
- **Aging**: Let the perfume age for about 2 weeks before use
- **Price reference**: ₩49,000 ≈ $36.5 · ₩59,000 ≈ $44 · ₩69,000 ≈ $51.5 (2026-10-16)

*as written by the visitor on Jun 18, 2026*

I was looking for something to do in Bukchon with a friend on the weekend, and I wanted an indoor activity that felt a little different, so we went to Muhwawon Bukchon Perfume Workshop (무화원 북촌향수공방). Perfume workshops in Seoul are popular these days, and Bukchon is a nice area for walking, so it seemed like a good Bukchon outing with a friend.

This time I made a 50ml premium perfume, and my friend made a 120ml premium car freshener. We did the class in the same space, but each of us could pick the product we actually wanted. I liked that.

![Perfume and car freshener made at Muhwawon Bukchon Perfume Workshop](https://img.superchart.com/images/bukchon-perfume-car-diffuser-workshop/bukchon-perfume-car-diffuser-workshop-01-b4hkb-966.webp)

![Perfume-making class with a friend at Muhwawon](https://img.superchart.com/images/bukchon-perfume-car-diffuser-workshop/bukchon-perfume-car-diffuser-workshop-02-i8l86-966.webp)

## Where is Muhwawon Bukchon Perfume Workshop?

Muhwawon is a perfume workshop on the 3rd floor of a building at 23 Yulgok-ro 6-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul. There is a white vertical sign outside the building that reads "perfume workshop 3F" (향수공방 3F), and it was easier to spot than I expected on a first visit.

![White vertical sign reading perfume workshop 3F on the Muhwawon building](https://img.superchart.com/images/bukchon-perfume-car-diffuser-workshop/bukchon-perfume-car-diffuser-workshop-03-ubgpp-966.webp)

I could also see the MUHWAWON logo near the entrance, so I knew right away we had the right place. The sign and the whole look are white and black, so it felt clean and calm even before we went in.

## How much are Muhwawon's perfume, car freshener and diffuser?

- Address: 23 Yulgok-ro 6-gil, 3rd floor, Jongno-gu, Seoul, about 410m from Anguk Station Exit 4
- Hours: daily 12:00 - 22:00
- Premium perfume 50ml: ₩49,000
- Premium car freshener 120ml: ₩59,000
- Premium diffuser 230ml: ₩69,000
- Parking: nearby public parking lot recommended

On the booking screen I checked, the premium 50ml perfume was also listed at ₩49,000.

![Booking screen for the Muhwawon premium 50ml perfume](https://img.superchart.com/images/bukchon-perfume-car-diffuser-workshop/bukchon-perfume-car-diffuser-workshop-04-fp3sr-966.webp)

It was listed as an EDP (eau de parfum) with 12% fragrance concentration, and a gift box and paper bag were included. The premium 120ml car freshener my friend made was ₩59,000, listed at 20% concentration. A 230ml diffuser was also an option, and I saw it priced at ₩69,000.

## Why we picked a Bukchon perfume workshop for a weekend with a friend

I chose Muhwawon because it was an indoor Bukchon activity where you sit, enjoy yourself regardless of the weather, and still end up with something to take home. When you meet a friend on the weekend, the day often ends up as lunch and then a café, right? This time I wanted to spend it a bit differently, so I searched for indoor things to do in Bukchon and found Muhwawon. A perfume workshop isn't affected much by the weather, you can sit calmly, and you keep what you make. That appealed to me.

I wanted to make a perfume I could spray often, while my friend said a car freshener for the car would be more practical than perfume. We sat at the same table and did the class together, yet each of us made what we needed: perfume for me, a car freshener for my friend. That was great.

So I picked Muhwawon not for a Bukchon date course where you just look around, but for an experience where you choose your own taste and bring the result home.

![Inside the Muhwawon workshop, an indoor activity in Bukchon](https://img.superchart.com/images/bukchon-perfume-car-diffuser-workshop/bukchon-perfume-car-diffuser-workshop-05-1nyne-966.webp)

![Class space at Muhwawon Bukchon Perfume Workshop](https://img.superchart.com/images/bukchon-perfume-car-diffuser-workshop/bukchon-perfume-car-diffuser-workshop-06-lxldo-966.webp)

## What is the atmosphere like at Muhwawon?

The inside of Muhwawon is mostly gray and black, so it felt more like a quiet gallery or a stylish studio than a cute little craft workshop. The first thing I noticed when I walked in was how much calmer the space was than I expected. The walls had a rough gray finish, and small bottles of fragrance oils were lined up neatly under the lights.

![Muhwawon fragrance oil bottles displayed on a textured gray wall](https://img.superchart.com/images/bukchon-perfume-car-diffuser-workshop/bukchon-perfume-car-diffuser-workshop-07-f0ybv-966.webp)

This wall was the most memorable part for me personally. The bottles weren't just displayed; they were arranged like small exhibits, so I felt like I'd come to make a scent and was browsing a gallery at the same time. The lighting was soft, not too bright or overwhelming, so the whole place felt comfortable.

![Softly lit perfume blending space at Muhwawon](https://img.superchart.com/images/bukchon-perfume-car-diffuser-workshop/bukchon-perfume-car-diffuser-workshop-08-y6gh8-966.webp)

The class took place at a long table. The order was: sit down and smell scents, tick your tastes in a notebook, then pick and combine the oils you like. Sitting side by side with my friend, we had time to focus on our own scents and time to smell each other's and chat in between. It was a nice mix of quiet, absorbed fun and doing something together with a friend.

## How does the Muhwawon perfume-making class work, step by step?

### Tablet survey and choosing how much perfumer help you want

Before mixing any oils, we filled out a short survey on a tablet. The questions asked whether you have a scent in mind, how much help you want from the perfumer, and how you found out about Muhwawon.

![Pre-blending survey filled out on a tablet at Muhwawon](https://img.superchart.com/images/bukchon-perfume-car-diffuser-workshop/bukchon-perfume-car-diffuser-workshop-09-fw97j-966.webp)

Since it was my first time, I chose to get the perfumer's help from start to finish. I like scents, but when it comes to blending them myself I have no idea which ones to use or how much, right? I was glad I could choose this in advance. If you want to create freely on your own, you can do that, and if you're a first-timer like me who wants explanations while making it, you can get help.

### Perfume basics from the theory notebook

After the survey, we went through basic perfume explanations using Muhwawon's theory notebook.

![Muhwawon theory notebook with perfume basics](https://img.superchart.com/images/bukchon-perfume-car-diffuser-workshop/bukchon-perfume-car-diffuser-workshop-10-trgep-966.webp)

It covered how perfume types differ by fragrance concentration, and how top, middle and base notes are perceived differently over time. The explanation wasn't too long or hard. It hit just the key points worth knowing before you make a scent, which actually helped later when choosing oils.

It was easy to understand if you think of the top note as the first impression when you first smell it, the middle note as the heart of the scent, and the base note as the lingering trail at the end. After hearing this, making perfume felt less like simply picking nice scents and more like thinking about how it will change over time.

### Ticking the scent mood in the blending notebook

Next, I ticked the SCENT MOOD section of the blending notebook. The directions I chose were woody, soapy, forest and elegant.

![Ticking the SCENT MOOD section of the blending notebook](https://img.superchart.com/images/bukchon-perfume-car-diffuser-workshop/bukchon-perfume-car-diffuser-workshop-11-z4bdr-966.webp)

![Blending notebook with woody, soapy and forest moods chosen](https://img.superchart.com/images/bukchon-perfume-car-diffuser-workshop/bukchon-perfume-car-diffuser-workshop-12-n2d4g-966.webp)

I'd always just thought I liked clean scents, but going through the checklist I realized I quite like woody, forest-like scents too. This part was surprisingly fun. Picking words one by one made my taste clearer than just vaguely imagining the scents I like.

Because my friend was making a car freshener, they focused on scents that wouldn't feel overwhelming in a car. The criteria for a perfume you spray on skin and a car freshener you leave in a space are definitely a bit different.

### Smelling the top, middle and base notes

Muhwawon's oils were divided into top, middle and base notes, and there were also Korean-style scents set apart, which made browsing fun. With so many oils I got a little confused at first. There were so many good ones that everything seemed good on the first sniff. But when I smelled them again using the mood I'd ticked in the notebook as my guide, the scents that matched my taste gradually narrowed down.

![Muhwawon oils divided into top, middle and base notes](https://img.superchart.com/images/bukchon-perfume-car-diffuser-workshop/bukchon-perfume-car-diffuser-workshop-13-j4w5z-m-966.webp)

Osmanthus (은목서) felt soft and subtle. I liked how sandalwood lingered calmly. A scent that smells good on its own and one that suits your own perfume turned out to be different things. That part was really fun to discover in practice.

## Which notes went into my hinoki and hanji forest perfume?

The scents I put forward as final candidates were bergamot, forest, hinoki (Japanese cypress), linen, aldehyde, orchid, white musk and hanji (traditional Korean paper).

![Final candidate oils including hinoki and hanji](https://img.superchart.com/images/bukchon-perfume-car-diffuser-workshop/bukchon-perfume-car-diffuser-workshop-14-132c0-966.webp)

They matched the woody, soapy, forest and elegant directions I'd ticked at the start. Forest and hinoki set a woodland mood, while linen and aldehyde added a clean feel. Orchid brought in a soft floral note that wasn't too heavy, and white musk seemed to tidy up the final lingering trail. Hanji was the one I was curious about from its name alone. I thought a paper scent might be too dry or unfamiliar, but it turned out plain and calm, and I liked it.

![Oil bottles set aside for the forest perfume](https://img.superchart.com/images/bukchon-perfume-car-diffuser-workshop/bukchon-perfume-car-diffuser-workshop-15-11w26-966.webp)

With the bottles gathered separately, I could see more clearly what kind of mood I wanted to make. It wasn't just refreshing, and it wasn't just heavy either. It was shaping up as a clean forest scent with a soft lingering trail.

## Blending the perfume by hand, one drop at a time

After choosing the oils, we decided on ratios and moved on to blending by hand. We rechecked the scents on blotter strips and moved the oils with a dropper.

From here it felt much more like a hands-on class. Even a one-drop difference changed the mood of the scent more than I expected. A scent that felt a bit light at first gained stability once the base oils went in. Making it myself, I learned that perfume isn't finished just by gathering scents you like. You have to tone down the parts that stick out and fill in the gaps. Without the perfumer's explanations, I think this would have been quite hard to do alone.

## How is the Muhwawon car freshener made and used?

My friend made a premium 120ml car freshener instead of perfume. A car freshener isn't sprayed on skin but placed in the space of a car, so the criteria for choosing a scent were a bit different. If it's too heavy it can feel stuffy in the car, and if it's too light its presence fades quickly, right? So my friend picked scents that wouldn't feel overwhelming even when left in the car for a long time.

The instruction sheet also explained how to use the car freshener. A dedicated kit is provided, and you remove the clear cap, swap it for the open cap and insert the wick.

It also recommended placing it in the front or rear cup holders. There was a note that in a small space the scent can feel heavy, so it's good to air out the car now and then. My friend seemed to find the car freshener more practical than perfume. Having something to put in the car right after the class seemed to make them quite satisfied.

## Packaging and the 2-week perfume aging period

The finished products came in a black box with a small logo. It suited the atmosphere of the space and looked neat.

![Black box with the Muhwawon logo for the finished products](https://img.superchart.com/images/bukchon-perfume-car-diffuser-workshop/bukchon-perfume-car-diffuser-workshop-16-1g7oe-966.webp)

The packaging was classier than I expected, so I thought it would be fine as a gift too. I was told to let the perfume I made age for about 2 weeks rather than use it right away.

![Finished perfume and instruction sheet noting 2 weeks of aging](https://img.superchart.com/images/bukchon-perfume-car-diffuser-workshop/bukchon-perfume-car-diffuser-workshop-17-12kqn-966.webp)

The instruction sheet also said that if you use it right away, the alcohol smell can be strong. I was tempted to spray it that same day, but waiting a bit seemed likely to let the scent settle better.

## What I liked about Muhwawon

What I liked most about Muhwawon was that choosing a scent happens in connected steps. The order was survey, mood check, theory explanation, smelling the oils, writing the formula and blending by hand, so even a first-timer could follow along easily.

With so many kinds of oils, there was a wide range of choices too. I could compare woody, clean, forest-like and floral scents all in one place.

![Muhwawon blending table for comparing many scents](https://img.superchart.com/images/bukchon-perfume-car-diffuser-workshop/bukchon-perfume-car-diffuser-workshop-18-1j9y2-1200.webp)

I also liked that my friend and I could make different products. I did the perfume class and my friend made a car freshener. We did it together at the same table, yet each took home something different.

## What could be better at Muhwawon

With so many oils at Muhwawon, choosing was actually hard at the start. There are lots of good scents, so if you keep your direction wide from the beginning, it can take time. If you go with a mood already in mind, like my woody, soapy, forest scents, it would probably be easier to choose on the spot.

We were told to use the perfume after 2 weeks of aging. If you want to use the finished scent the same day, it's best to know this beforehand.

## How I'd prepare for a second visit

If I went to Muhwawon again, I'd narrow down the scent mood to two or three. Even just deciding the broad directions, like clean, forest-like and a cozy lingering trail, would probably keep me from wavering on the spot.

Making a car freshener like my friend did also looked pretty good. Perfume is a scent that stays close to you, and a car freshener is a scent that stays in your everyday space, right? Both leave you with something to keep, so I thought it's a good indoor activity in Bukchon to do with a friend.

## Final thoughts on the Bukchon perfume workshop

Muhwawon Bukchon Perfume Workshop felt less like a place to simply pick a scent and more like a space to slowly sort out your own taste. I made a woody, clean forest perfume, and my friend made a car freshener for the car. We made different products, but we could share the process, which made it more memorable. The space was calm, and choosing the oils was more detailed than I expected. It was a good experience for checking your own taste, whether you wear perfume often or are making it for the first time.

![Finished creations from Muhwawon Bukchon Perfume Workshop](https://img.superchart.com/images/bukchon-perfume-car-diffuser-workshop/bukchon-perfume-car-diffuser-workshop-19-q7gq2-966.webp)

If you're looking for a perfume workshop in Seoul, a Bukchon date course to do with a friend, or an indoor activity, I felt Muhwawon Bukchon Perfume Workshop is worth comparing at least once. Since you're told to use the perfume after about 2 weeks of aging, going with a willingness to wait a little will probably leave you more satisfied.

## Where it is

- Muhwawon Bukchon Perfume Workshop (무화원 북촌향수공방)
- 23 Yulgok-ro 6-gil, 3rd floor, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea
- 서울특별시 종로구 율곡로6길 23 3층
- 37.5762005, 126.9894158
- Google Maps: https://www.google.com/maps/search/%EB%AC%B4%ED%99%94%EC%9B%90%20%EB%B6%81%EC%B4%8C%ED%96%A5%EC%88%98%EA%B3%B5%EB%B0%A9/@37.5762005,126.9894158,17z

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