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I’ve made perfume in three different studios in Seoul, and the two in Seongsu-dong are in a completely different league from anything else I’ve tried. The Seongsu-dong perfume making class scene has grown into something genuinely special — not a tourist activity, but a real craft experience run by people who take fragrance seriously. The question most visitors have is simple:.NOTE or Lumiere? I’ve done both, and the answer depends entirely on what kind of experience you’re looking for.
Table of Contents
- Why Seongsu-dong for Perfume?
- .NOTE Private Perfume Making Class: Full Review
- Seongsu Lumiere Perfume: Full Review
- Side-by-Side Comparison
- Which One Should You Choose?
- Tips for Getting the Most from Your Class
- FAQ
- My Thoughts
Why Seongsu-dong for Perfume?
Seongsu-dong’s identity as a creative and artisan neighbourhood makes it a natural home for perfume studios. The same culture that produced the silversmithing workshops and leather craft studios also attracted a new generation of Korean perfumers who wanted to work in a neighbourhood that valued craft and creativity over commercial scale.
The perfume studios in Seongsu-dong are not souvenir shops. They’re working studios where trained perfumers create their own fragrances and teach the craft to visitors. The raw materials they use are high quality, the instruction is genuine, and the results — the perfumes you take home — are things you’ll actually wear.
For the full context of Seongsu-dong’s creative scene, my Seongsu-dong Seoul travel guide covers the neighbourhood’s evolution from industrial district to artisan hub.
📸 Inside a Seongsu-dong perfume studio — rows of fragrance vials, glass droppers, and a perfumer’s blending palette on a clean white marble surface.
.NOTE Private Perfume Making Class: Full Review
.NOTE is the more intimate and personal of the two studios. The class is private — you book a session for yourself or your group, and you have the studio and the perfumer’s full attention for the entire session. There are no strangers at the next bench. No one rushing through the process to get to the next group.
The session begins with a scent consultation. The perfumer asks about your preferences, your lifestyle, the occasions you want to wear the fragrance for, and the notes you’re drawn to. This isn’t a quick questionnaire — it’s a genuine conversation that shapes everything that follows. I spent about 20 minutes in this consultation on my last visit, and by the end of it, the perfumer had a clear picture of what I was trying to create.
Then comes the blending. You work through a curated selection of raw materials — top notes, heart notes, base notes — building your fragrance layer by layer. The perfumer guides you, explains the role of each ingredient, and helps you adjust when something isn’t working. The process is collaborative rather than prescriptive. You’re not following a recipe; you’re creating something original.
The session runs approximately two and a half to three hours. You leave with a 50ml bottle of your custom fragrance, beautifully packaged. The bottle is labelled with your name and the date — a detail that makes it feel genuinely personal.
My honest assessment:.NOTE is the best perfume experience I’ve had anywhere. The quality of instruction, the quality of materials, and the quality of the final product are all exceptional. It’s not cheap, but it’s worth every won.
→ Book.NOTE Private Perfume Making Class on Klook
Seongsu Lumiere Perfume: Full Review
Lumiere takes a slightly different approach. The class is more structured, with a wider range of pre-selected scent families to choose from, and the process is more guided than collaborative. You’re working from a broader palette of options rather than building from scratch with a perfumer’s one-on-one guidance.
This is not a criticism. For many visitors, the Lumiere approach is actually preferable. If you’re not sure what you like, having a wider range of options to smell and choose from makes the process less intimidating. The studio is also larger and more visually striking — lots of natural light, clean white surfaces, rows of beautiful fragrance vials — which makes it a more photogenic experience.
The session runs approximately one and a half to two hours. You leave with a custom perfume bottle in a range of sizes depending on the package you choose. The packaging is beautiful and gift-ready.
My honest assessment: Lumiere is an excellent experience, particularly for first-timers or those who want a more approachable introduction to perfume-making. It’s slightly less personal than.NOTE, but the quality is high and the result is genuinely lovely.
→ Book Seongsu Lumiere Perfume on Klook
📸 A Seongsu-dong perfume making class in progress — a student carefully measuring fragrance drops into a glass bottle under the guidance of a Korean perfumer.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| .NOTE | Lumiere | |
|---|---|---|
| Session type | Private (just your group) | Small group |
| Duration | 2.5–3 hours | 1.5–2 hours |
| Instruction style | Collaborative, one-on-one | Guided, structured |
| Scent palette | Curated, perfumer-guided | Wide range, self-selected |
| Take-home product | 50ml custom perfume | Custom perfume (size varies) |
| Price range (KRW) | 80,000–120,000 | 60,000–90,000 |
| Best for | Serious fragrance lovers, special occasions | First-timers, groups, gift experiences |
| English support | Yes | Yes |
Which One Should You Choose?
Choose .NOTE if:
- You’re a fragrance enthusiast who wants a genuinely personal, collaborative experience
- You’re celebrating something special — a birthday, an anniversary, a solo trip milestone
- You want the most memorable souvenir you can bring back from Seoul
- You have three hours and you want to use them well
Choose Lumiere if:
- You’re new to perfume-making and want a more approachable introduction
- You’re visiting with someone who isn’t sure they’ll enjoy it — Lumiere is the easier sell
- You have a tighter schedule and need to fit the experience into two hours
- You want something beautiful and photogenic as well as fragrant
If you can only do one, and you’re a first-time visitor to Seongsu-dong, I’d lean toward.NOTE. The extra time and the private format make it a more complete experience. But Lumiere is genuinely excellent, and if the timing or budget works better, you won’t be disappointed.
Tips for Getting the Most from Your Perfume Class
Don’t wear heavy fragrance on the day. This sounds obvious, but it’s easy to forget. Wearing a strong perfume to a perfume class interferes with your ability to smell the raw materials clearly. Arrive fragrance-free, or at most with a very light scent.
Think about what you want before you arrive. Spend five minutes before your session thinking about the scents you’re drawn to in everyday life — the smell of rain on concrete, fresh laundry, a particular flower, a specific food. These associations are useful starting points for the consultation.
Don’t rush the consultation. At.NOTE especially, the consultation is where the magic happens. Take your time, be honest about what you like and don’t like, and let the perfumer guide you. The more information you give, the better the result.
Book at least a week in advance. Both studios fill up fast, particularly on weekends..NOTE’s private format means there are fewer slots available — book two weeks ahead if you’re visiting on a weekend.
If you want to combine your perfume class with other Seongsu-dong experiences, the Seongsu-dong craft workshops guide has a full overview of everything worth booking in the neighbourhood.
FAQ
How long does a Seongsu-dong perfume making class take?
.NOTE sessions run approximately two and a half to three hours. Lumiere sessions run approximately one and a half to two hours. Both include consultation, blending, and packaging time. Factor in travel time to and from Seongsu-dong when planning your day.
Do I need any knowledge of perfumery to take the class?
No. Both.NOTE and Lumiere are designed for complete beginners. The instructors explain everything from the basics of fragrance structure (top, heart, and base notes) to the specific ingredients you’re working with. You don’t need any prior knowledge — just an interest in scent.
Can I take the perfume on a plane?
Yes, with the standard liquid restrictions. A 50ml bottle is within the 100ml carry-on limit. If you’re buying a larger size, pack it in your checked luggage. Both studios package the perfume securely for travel.
Is the perfume I make at the class actually wearable?
Yes. The raw materials used at both.NOTE and Lumiere are professional-grade fragrance ingredients. The perfumes you create are genuine, wearable fragrances — not diluted tourist versions. Several people I know who’ve done these classes still wear their Seongsu-dong perfumes regularly, including my sister who did.NOTE with me two years ago.
Can I book a Seongsu-dong perfume class as a gift for someone?
Yes, and it’s one of the best gifts you can give someone who’s visiting Seoul. Both studios offer gift booking options. The experience itself is memorable, and the perfume they take home is a genuinely personal souvenir. Book through Klook for the most straightforward gift booking process.
My Thoughts
Of all the craft experiences I’ve done in Seongsu-dong over the years, the perfume classes are the ones I recommend most enthusiastically. Not because they’re the most technically impressive — the silversmithing is arguably more skilled — but because the result is something you carry with you every day.
A ring you made at UNIU RINGS lives on your finger. A bag you made at the leather workshop sits on your shoulder. But a perfume you made at.NOTE or Lumiere is invisible and everywhere at once. Every time you wear it, you’re back in that studio in Seongsu-dong, smelling the raw materials, making decisions, creating something that didn’t exist before you walked in.
That’s a remarkable thing to take home from a trip.
Book Your Seongsu-dong Perfume Class
Both studios book out fast — don’t leave it until you arrive in Seoul:
Related Links
More guides to help you plan your Seongsu-dong visit:
- Seongsu-dong Seoul Travel Guide — the complete neighbourhood guide
- Seongsu-dong Craft Workshops Seoul — all the hands-on experiences in the neighbourhood, including ring-making and leather
- Best Cafes in Seongsu-dong — where to go before or after your perfume class
- Things to Do in Seongsu-dong on a Weekend — how to fit your perfume class into a full day itinerary
- .NOTE Private Perfume Making Class on Klook — book the private session (affiliate link)
- Seongsu Lumiere Perfume on Klook — book the group session (affiliate link)