How To Use

Information

Hours: 12:00 – 21:00

Available Reservation Hours: 12:00 – 20:00

Duration: 1 Hour

Available Languages: Korean, Chinese, English, Japanese

Address: 2F, 25 Hongik-ro 5-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul
서울 마포구 홍익로5길 25 2층

How to Use

Our Visit

Today, we visited Parfum 9, a perfume studio located in Hongdae. Parfum 9 combines parfum, which signifies fragrance and perfume, with the number 9, the highest single digit number in numerology representing the completion of fragrance and excellence in quality.

The interior of the store was elegantly designed with a simple yet sophisticated ambiance. The most impressive feature was the vanity table displaying used perfume bottles right to the left of the entrance. Although they were empty bottles, the fact that they were repurposed for decoration highlights the essence of a perfume studio.

Upon your arrival at the store, you will be provided with a perfume making chart. Before we begin, please fill out your personal information and a brief questionnaire.

Now, it’s time to start the one-day class! There is an instructional guide in front of the central fragrance testing table. The process at Parfum 9 is divided into four steps: Perfume Making Chart Completion > Fragrance Testing & Perfume Bottle Selection > Single Fragrance Testing and Perfuming > Creating Perfume & Packaging.

The central fragrance testing table is referred to as the Parfum gallery. Here, you’ll find a collection of premium luxury fragrances meticulously blended by skilled European perfumers for the purpose of creating high-end perfumes. These scents have been carefully curated and recreated by Parfum 9 to offer a unique and refined perfume experience.

Take turns smelling the fragrances one by one. When smelling, simply open the cap and inhale the scent from the cap. After smelling, write down your favorite scents or the ones you’d like to use for creating your perfume on the perfume making chart. At the end of the Parfum gallery, there are four perfume bottles. Choose one of them and also note your selection on the perfume making chart. With these preliminary steps completed, are you ready to proceed and start crafting your perfume?

The perfume creation process takes place right behind the Parfum gallery. The bottles you see in the second picture are the ones you’ll be using for this session, and they need to be used up entirely.

These components are single fragrance materials used for blending and testing scents: Starting from the top, they are referred to as top, middle, and last notes. Top notes are characterized by scents that evaporate relatively quickly, typically lasting around 20-30 minutes. Middle notes consist mostly of floral and herbal scents. Last notes linger longer, with their fragrance lasting several hours, leaving around 10-20% of the residual scent after a few hours.

You won’t be using just one type of single fragrance; instead, start by selecting two scents from each category that you prefer. When choosing scents, a tip is to avoid ones that immediately have a strong alcohol scent, as those might not be suitable for you. Avoid smelling too many scents at once, as it can overwhelm your senses and lead you to perceive only stronger, more intense scents over time. To reset your sense of smell, you can use the coffee beans provided.

Once you’ve chosen your scents, please write down the names of the fragrances on the perfume making chart. Afterward, the scent coordinator will select a few single fragrances for you. These fragrances will be dropped, one drop at a time, into a testing container. The container will then be mixed to create a first sample for you.

Next, you’ll proceed to the fragrance testing area and try out the first sample. After smelling, share your personal preferences with the scent coordinator, such as which notes you’d like to be more pronounced or if certain notes feel too strong or too light for you. Your feedback is valuable and can include comments like “I’d prefer this note to be stronger” or “This scent feels too heavy” or “Too light.”

Taking feedbacks into account, we’ve created up to four different samples. Among them, one scent stood out as the best choice! The editor ended up choosing the first sample after considering all the options.

Next, you’ll move on to combining the scents based on the sample you chose earlier, using the perfume bottle. The scent coordinator will guide you on how many grams of each scent to mix for each category. Please write down the quantities on the perfume making chart.

Using the sample as a guide, you will now add the fragrance materials into the perfume bottle. While a slight variation in quantity is okay, it’s important to try to match the gram measurements as closely as possible. Excessive deviations can potentially change the final scent, so please aim to follow the specified gram measurements.

With this, all the tasks we needed to complete are done. The combined amount isn’t too much, is it?

Now, the scent coordinator will fill the perfume bottle with Fine Fragrance Oil. This oil has the highest cosmetic grade and adheres to strict global standards set like RIFM and IFRA.

The perfume is now fully crafted! Finally, you’ll do one more smelling test. Since it was just created, there might still be a faint alcohol scent, but the scent will get better after about four days. Additionally, choose one of the two stickers provided and attach it to the perfume bottle.

Furthermore, Parfum 9 is currently running a review event. If you write a review on the Creatrip website, you’ll receive a complimentary room spray worth 13,000 KRW. The room spray contains the same fragrance you personally created, allowing you to use it for various purposes at home.

Lastly, with the perfume packaging box and shopping bag provided, the product setup is now complete. Shall we head to the photo zone and take some pictures now?

There are a total of four different photo zones, and you can choose one that suits the fragrance and ambiance of your perfume.

The photo zones are so well-designed that any angle you choose will result in great photos. Experience the unique opportunity to create a premium perfume and find your own signature scent at Parfum 9 in Hongdae.

How to Get There

Please leave Exit 9 of Hongik University Station.

Please proceed straight in the direction to your left as you exit.

Make a right turn at the first intersection.

Continue straight ahead.

MCross the crosswalk and continue straight in the direction of the arrow. After walking about 30 meters, you’ll see a blue sign on your left.

Enter the building and head up to the second floor to reach your destination!