For eight years, 121 LE MAL DU PAYS has made fragrance and shared personal taste from its custom fragrance studio in Hongdae. Tell us the scent families you enjoy, receive a personal shortlist, and explore more than 170 scents at your own pace. Choose two scents and their proportions, then select your leather label color and engraving. We blend and engrave everything in the studio before placing the finished fragrance in your hands. There is no one else’s right answer—only a fragrance completed through your own choices.
The process
How your fragrance comes together
01
Tell us the scents you enjoy
Share the scent families you usually enjoy, receive a personal shortlist, and begin smelling at your own pace.
02
Choose the two that stay with you
Compare the scents, then smell your two favorites together.
03
Choose the balance and your words
Write down the scent numbers, the proportion of each, and the words to engrave on your leather label.
04
Choose your leather label color
Select the leather color that feels right for the fragrance and its words.
05
We blend your fragrance
We measure the two scents to your chosen proportions and blend them in the studio.
06
We laser-engrave your words
The words you chose are engraved precisely onto your selected leather label.
07
Receive your finished fragrance
When the scent and label are ready, your one-of-a-kind fragrance is placed in your hands.
08
Keep the story of your fragrance
You will receive a card with the scent notes and story of your finished fragrance. Keep your selected scent numbers safe—you will need them to reorder.
09
Make a memory with your fragrance
Take photos with your finished fragrance around the atelier. Keep the scent you made in Seoul and the scene of that day together in your memory.
Plan your visit
Before you visit
Check the opening hours and which experiences require a reservation before you arrive.
Hours
Tuesday–Sunday 13:00–20:30 · Closed Mondays
Address
40 Wausan-ro 13-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul
Subway
About a 3-minute walk from Sangsu Station Exit 1
Walk-ins
Custom fragrance and diffuser visits welcome walk-ins
Reservation
The hand cream and solid perfume class runs Thursday–Sunday; same-day booking is unavailable because materials are prepared in advance
Duration
A custom fragrance usually takes about 45 minutes
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
01Do I need a reservation to make a fragrance?
You can visit for a custom fragrance or diffuser without a reservation. Use Naver Booking if you would like to secure a particular time and prepay; booking is optional, and walk-ins are welcome. The hand cream and solid perfume class runs Thursday–Sunday. Materials are prepared in advance, so same-day booking is unavailable and advance booking is required.
02How long does the fragrance experience take?
A custom fragrance usually takes about 45 minutes.
03Can I make a fragrance if I know nothing about perfume?
Yes. Fragrance specialists are always on hand to offer guidance as you explore 171 perfume scents. The process is simple and intuitive, so you can complete a fragrance of your own without prior knowledge, even when you and our team do not share the same language.
04How many scents can I explore?
The atelier holds 233 scents in total: 171 for custom fragrance and 62 for diffusers. For a custom fragrance, explore the 171-scent perfume library and finally select two scents.
05How is the custom fragrance made?
Begin by telling us which fragrance families you enjoy, such as woody, floral, fruity, vanilla, citrus, musk, or aquatic. We will give you a personal shortlist to guide your exploration. After smelling the recommendations, choose two scents and the proportion of each; we then blend them to those proportions in the studio. The guided process makes it easy to create a polished fragrance even without perfume expertise.
06Can I choose the words engraved on the label?
Yes. Complimentary engraving is included. Choose your preferred color from around 40 leather label options, then decide which words to engrave. The engraving is available in a range of languages.
07Can I join the hand cream and solid perfume class without a reservation?
The class runs Thursday–Sunday, with standard bookings limited to six guests per session. Materials must be prepared in advance, so same-day booking is unavailable; please book ahead. Groups of seven or more should contact us separately, and private group sessions can accommodate up to 15 guests at one time.
08Can groups visit the atelier?
The atelier can host about 15 guests for a custom fragrance experience, and groups of seven or more should book in advance. One-day classes for around 30 guests can also be held in our separate group space. After scheduling, the program is usually run as two groups of 15, with about 75 minutes for each group. We have hosted group programs for Naver, Kakao, KT&G Sangsangmadang, Starbucks, LG Electronics, welfare organizations, and international tour groups. Contact Instagram @121LEMALDUPAYS to arrange it.
09Can I reorder the fragrance I made?
To reorder the same scent, contact Instagram @121LEMALDUPAYS with your formula number. An online reorder experience is also in preparation.
10Where is the atelier and when is it open?
The atelier is at 40 Wausan-ro 13-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul, about three minutes from Sangsu Station Exit 1. It is open Tuesday through Sunday from 13:00 to 20:30 and closed Mondays.
