Creating Scented Memories: Greedy Scent Perfume Workshop in Seoul
Last Updated on August 19, 2026
Perfume culture in Korea has taken off in recent years. In 2025 alone, the country’s fragrance market is projected to hit $468.91 million, with a steady annual growth rate of 2.3% through 2030. What’s driving this growth? A perfect storm of emotional wellness, aesthetic expression, and self-care trends.
A few years ago, the term “korgasm” (코르가즘), a blend of nose in Korean and orgasm, emerged to describe the deep emotional pleasure triggered by scent. Not just about smelling good, perfumes became a small luxury and small acts of self-love. What came after that was a boom in shops for creating your very own personalized aroma and that’s where Greedy Scent (그리디센트) comes in.
Greedy Scent is a perfumer-led perfume-making class in Seoul where a staff perfumer walks you through building a custom fragrance from 36 aroma materials, start to finish. You leave the same day with a 50ml bottle you made yourself.
Whether visiting Korea as a tourist, or living here, finding one of these perfume making experiences is a great way to spend an afternoon. I walked away with my favorite aroma yet!
Here’s what to expect in a perfume making class run by Greedy Scent in Seoul:
- Basic Info
- What To Know About Greedy Scent
- The Sensory Experience: Step-by-Step
- Greedy Scent vs. .NOTE: Perfumer-Led vs. Self-Guided
- Who Should Join A Perfume-Making Class In Korea?
- What perfume brands are popular in Korea?
- FAQ
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Basic Info
Bukchon Branch (그리디센트 북촌): Near the popular Bukchon Hanok Village and Gyeongbokgung Palace, this is the branch we visited. The store is a remodeled Hanok, traditional Korean house, and has beautiful wooden accents. It’s a harmonious blend of modern and traditional Korea.
- Address: 1st floor, 12-1 Samcheong-ro 4-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul (서울 종로구 삼청로4길 12-1 1층)
- Hours: Every day: 12:00pm ~ 8:00pm
- Make A Reservation: Reserve a time on Creatrip for quick and easy access.
Yeonnam Branch: Near the popular and hip Hongdae district of Seoul, this space is minimalistic and features a central metal table. It’s a bright space with large windows with a vibe all it’s own, perfect for the area.
- Address: 2nd floor, 26-6 Donggyo-ro 38-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul (서울 마포구 동교로38길 26-6 2층)
- Hours: Every day: 12:00pm ~ 8:00pm
- Make a Reservation: Reserve a time on Creatrip for quick and easy access.
What To Know About Greedy Scent
Tapping into the Korean booming fragrance scene and the growing appetite for personalized, sensory experiences, Greedy Scent is a brand that caters to Koreans as well as foreign tourists and locals. They provide language support in English, Chinese, and Japanese.
Greedy Scent creates a comforting space for a hands-on experience whether you’re alone, with a friend or loved one. You’re encouraged to slow down and take your time, a small act of self-care in itself, a perfect way to spend an afternoon in the bustling city of Seoul.
Did you know? Aromas evoke memories and emotions so creating your own perfume while in Korea will forever remind you of your adventure when you smell it later. It’s a souvenir that keeps giving.
The Sensory Experience: Step-by-Step
From the moment I walked in, Iris made me feel welcome. She started us out with the guidebook and explained the process to come. We would take our time first working our way through 36 aromas and choosing the ones we’re drawn to.
In an effort to let my nose tell me what it knows, I didn’t pay particular attention but chatted with my friend while smelling citrus, florals, woods, and spices. Any aromas that I liked, I left on the table and any that didn’t hit right, I put back. By the end of that first round, I had 9. Now to pare down. From that, I got to the six I needed.
Fun fact: What Koreans are drawn to and what you’re drawn to may differ. South Korea’s fragrance market is experiencing a surge in demand for unique and innovative scents inspired by traditional Korean ingredients and cultural heritage.
Now with our six scents chosen, now we put one drop of each into a small cup, smelled, and then decided from there what I liked and what I wanted less of. By the second round, which Iris said to just sort of experiment with adding more drops of one and less of another to see how we felt, it was clear that even if both of us had chosen the same scents, we’d end up with very different perfumes.
By the end of the second round, I could tell what I wanted as my top note, my bottom note, and what I wanted a bit more of. Iris then helped calculate the final formula. Good thing, because getting the exact amounts right is important and I was prepared to do math.
Finally, much like my favorite chemistry classes in high school, I got to use a small beaker and a scale to measure out the aroma oils. Iris whisked away the concoction and then returned with a gorgeous bottle of perfume with a lovely minimal, modern label. I also got to keep the scent card with my own recipe that I can have it made when I finish this bottle should I want to. I’ve worn it every day since. It’s my favorite aroma now.
You take the bottle home with you the same day, there’s no waiting period to pick it up later. Iris did mention letting the fragrance settle for a bit before wearing it, something about giving the blend time to come together properly.
Greedy Scent vs. .NOTE: Perfumer-Led vs. Self-Guided
I’ve now done two different perfume-making experiences in Seoul, and they sit at opposite ends of how much guidance you get. At Greedy Scent, Iris was with us for the entire process, smelling what we made and helping us decide. At .NOTE, which I visited in Seongsu, you work through a video tutorial largely on your own, with staff stepping in only if you ask.
| Greedy Scent | .NOTE | |
|---|---|---|
| Guidance style | In-person, led by a staff perfumer | Self-guided video tutorial |
| Fragrance materials | 36 | 60, split into top/middle/base |
| Pace | Set by your guide, ours ran ~70 minutes | You control it |
| Best for | People who want expert input and reassurance along the way | People who like figuring things out independently, or want a quieter process |
| Locations | Bukchon, Yeonnam | Seongsu, Hongdae, Gangnam |
| Booking | Book them on Creatrip | Book them on Creatrip |
If you want someone smelling along with you and telling you when something’s working, Greedy Scent is the better fit. If you’d rather take your time on your own and treat it more like a quiet, independent activity, .NOTE might suit you better, I’ve written about my experience there in my .NOTE article.
Who Should Join A Perfume-Making Class In Korea?
Honestly, anyone. It’s solo-friendly but also perfect for dates, there was a couple there when we were also. It’s great for outings with friends, or even a unique bonding activity with a parent. The whole experience took about 70 minutes, but I wasn’t even watching the clock.
What perfume brands are popular in Korea?
While top luxury perfumes from Chanel, Jo Malone, and Diptyque are popular, it’s niche brands that are the major driver of the perfume market in Korea. Though they may be more expensive at times, they are considered a worthy investment. Niche perfumes have been favored for their natural and rare ingredients that blend well with the individual human scent.
If you’re visiting Korea and want to get your own wonderful Korean perfumes, you should visit the Garosu-gil area which has become quite the perfume district of the capital. Dosandae-ro 11-gil has be brands like Tamburins and Hotel Dawson as well as international favorites Diptyque, Le Labo, and Byredo.
FAQ
How long does the class take?
About 70 minutes, guided by a staff perfumer the whole way through.
Do I take my perfume home the same day?
Yes, no waiting period. Our guide, Iris, did mention letting it settle a bit before wearing it.
What size bottle do you end up with?
50ml (1.7 fl oz).
Which Greedy Scent branch should I visit, Bukchon or Yeonnam?
I’ve only personally visited Bukchon, near Bukchon Hanok Village and Gyeongbokgung Palace. Yeonnam looks minimalist and bright based on photos, but I can’t speak to it firsthand yet.
How is Greedy Scent different from .NOTE?
Greedy Scent is led in person by a staff perfumer from start to finish. .NOTE, which I also visited in Seongsu, is self-guided through a video tutorial with staff stepping in only when needed. See my comparison table above for the full breakdown.
Bukchon isn’t a neighborhood I need much of an excuse to visit anyway, but having a reason to slow down and stay awhile is always welcome. Since going, I’ve actually been back, took my original recipe and had my same aroma made again. Definitely an experience I recommend.
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