Bukchon, Seoul perfume class with a silver name label: Muhwawon

Where is Muhwawon Bukchon Perfume Workshop, and when is it open?

Muhwawon Bukchon Perfume Workshop 23 Yulgok-ro 6-gil, 3F, Jongno-gu, Seoul 38-2 Unni-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul 6-minute walk from Anguk Station Exit 4 7-minute walk from Jongno 3-ga Station Exit 6 Daily 12:00–22:00 Parking: Changdeokgung Palace Parking Lot No.1 / Gigwang Parking Lot

It had been a while since my friend and I did something a little special together, so I went looking for Muhwawon Bukchon Perfume Workshop. It was also kind of my friend's birthday, so instead of the usual meal-and-café routine, I wanted us to do something we'd actually remember. I'd made perfume before, so this time I looked for a proper Bukchon perfume workshop with a nice atmosphere.

What the Muhwawon studio feels like inside

The first thing I thought walking in was "wow, this is way more upscale than I expected!" I'd imagined a perfume workshop as some cute little space, but Muhwawon is clean, calm, and quiet overall, which made a great first impression. There's a subtle traditional touch too, but it's not heavy or old-fashioned — it's done in a modern way that fits perfectly with the Bukchon vibe. My friend and I both said "good pick" the moment we walked in.

What does the name Muhwawon mean?

Muhwawon (霧花園) means "a scent blooming in the garden like mist," inspired by the mist that rises in the Secret Garden of Changdeokgung Palace. The brand also stands out for reinterpreting Korean materials like hanji (traditional paper), medicinal herbs, and incense into modern scents. It's also close to Changdeokgung, Bukchon Hanok Village, Insa-dong, Ikseon-dong, and Seosunra-gil, so it's easy to pair an Anguk perfume experience with a date course nearby.

How much is the one-day class, and how long does it take?

The perfuming one-day class takes about 1 hour 30 minutes, covering both scent-making and full product packaging.

• Premium perfume 50ml — ₩49,000
• Premium car diffuser 120ml — ₩59,000
• Premium diffuser 230ml — ₩69,000
• Premium perfume + perfume — ₩79,000
• Premium perfume + car diffuser — ₩89,000
• Premium perfume + diffuser — ₩99,000
• Premium diffuser + car diffuser — ₩109,000

How does the perfume blending process work?

Before diving into actual perfume-making, we did a quick preliminary survey. You smell each of the raw materials laid out in front of you one by one and write down what kind of scent you want and which ingredients you'd like to try.

Then the perfumer looked over the ingredients I'd chosen and explained, one by one, whether they went well together and what to add or remove. I'm pretty sensitive to scent and I like perfume in general, but this time, rather than going in with "I must make this exact scent," I wanted to build something based on how I was feeling that day. Since it was turning into autumn, I said I wanted something that felt like fall and a bit elegant. Funny enough, even though I said I wanted something elegant, some of the ingredients I actually picked out gave off a faint temple-incense vibe haha. I guess the image I described and the scents I was actually drawn to weren't quite the same. The perfumer explained what feeling each scent gave off and sorted them into top, middle, and base notes for me, which was really helpful. Once we had a direction, we got started on the actual perfume-making.

First, you put the chosen ingredients into a container drop by drop, mix them, then dab a scent strip and smell it. You talk through what you like and what's missing with the perfumer, adding and removing ingredients to make a second blend. You can experiment like this up to three times.

Three rounds of blending, and back to blend No. 1

When I first smelled blend No.1, I thought it felt a little flat, so for blend No.2 I added a different scent. But comparing them, No.1 was actually better ^^;;;; So I made a third blend too, and again No.1 was my favorite. In the end the perfumer gave me another container so I could tweak the ratio slightly and compare one more time. After going through all that, I ended up going with the very first blend I'd made after all!! Scent is such a funny thing — adding more doesn't always make it better, and sometimes the balance you land on first is actually the one you like best. Still, having tested and compared it so many times before deciding really made me feel like I'd found a scent that truly matched my taste.

What I liked about the Muhwawon one-day class was that you get to make choices freely on your own, while the perfumer steps in with professional guidance exactly where needed. It wasn't just a case of picking a few things, mixing them, and being done — you genuinely think through each scent and are 100% involved in the process, so the 90 minutes flew by.

Once you've settled on your final scent, the recipe is measured into a beaker gram by gram — 1g at a time, carefully — and stirred 100 times haha. Then it's poured into the prepared perfume bottle, topped up with base alcohol, and it's done!

The silver name label and the finished 50ml perfume

You write down the name you want for your perfume and they print it on a silver label haha. I went with [The Trap of Youth] lol. With my own chosen scent and my own chosen name on it, it really felt like a one-of-a-kind perfume that exists nowhere else in the world. The perfume is made at EDP 12% concentration, and besides perfume you can also make your own diffuser or car diffuser. The packaging was clean too, and with the silver label on it, even though I made it myself it looked classy enough to give as a gift.

We also joined a review event and got a mini diffuser to use in the car or closet haha. That one had a nice subtle scent too. I'm not quite an expert who can pick out individual raw materials, but overall the scent wasn't overpowering — it spread softly and gently, which I liked. Honestly, I might even like it more than the He**** perfume I've been using lately...!!

Since I picked the ingredients I personally liked and tweaked the blend myself multiple times, it'd be hard for it not to suit my taste lol. And since the recipe is kept on file, once this bottle runs out I want to make the same scent again. I went for my friend's birthday, but instead of just buying a gift, the whole process of smelling and deliberating together while each of us made our own one-of-a-kind scent ended up feeling like a much more special memory. 😘 The facilities were clean and the vibe was great, but what I liked most wasn't just experiencing a pretty space — it was that the perfumer's explanations and knowledge actually helped me find the scent I really wanted.

Who should book a class at Muhwawon?

This feels like a great experience not just for perfume lovers, but for anyone wanting a date that's a little different from usual, or a birthday or anniversary that feels a bit more special. If you're looking for a Bukchon perfume workshop around Jongno or Anguk, or want to try a different kind of Anguk perfume experience, Muhwawon Bukchon Perfume Workshop is worth a visit. If you're someone who's into scent like me, the process of narrowing down your own preferences bit by bit is pretty fun in itself haha. It was a satisfying one-day class — I got a proper reset, made a special memory with my friend, and best of all, ended up with a truly one-of-a-kind perfume I really love :)