7 Underrated Korean Perfume Brands You Need To Know—And Where To Buy Them
If you’ve ever wanted to smell like a bamboo forest or a cup of black tea, you’re in the right place.
By Nicole Ng - published
Asian perfume brands are at the top of everyone’s wishlist right now, from Bangkok’s Journal and Vietnam’s D’annam to China’s To Summer and even our very own Rahasya Fragrances. South Korea is another heavyweight in this category. While we know and love Tamburins, the sister brand of Gentle Monster whose campaigns have been fronted by everyone from Stray Kids’s Felix to Perfect Crown’s Byeon Woo Seok, there are plenty other underrated Korean perfume brands to shop from for new fragrances to add next to your beloved bottle of Chamo.
How Are Korean Perfume Brands Different From Others?
Korean brands typically offer lighter and fresher scents that seem to complement your presence rather than create a massive impact, something you’d more likely get from Western brands that have bolder profiles and room-filling sillages.
Of course, there are exceptions to this. Borntostandout, for one, went viral a few years ago for its risque names and bold fragrance combinations that mix maple, rum and coffee, for example. But most perfumes from other brands in the country remain understated, instead opting for nature-inspired notes of tea, bergamot and other plants for cleaner and calmer fragrances better suited to a warm climate like ours.
Below, seven of our favourite underrated Korean brands that you can shop from the comfort of your home, no flight to South Korea necessary.
Related article: Viral Thai Perfume Brands To Shop On Your Next Bangkok Trip
1. Chwi
The vibe: Grounding, earthy scents inspired by nature
Through its fragrances, Chwi wants to evoke “forgotten memories” of quiet moments one would experience in a bamboo forest and a serene temple. The result is a series of seven scents perfect for those who are more inclined towards fresh and woody fragrances rather than ones that lean floral, fruity or sweet. Its bestselling scent is Daenamu, or bamboo, a fresh and light green option perfect to wear in the heat, and Sachal, or temple, which carries notes of incense, tobacco and sandalwood. For those who like softer skin scents, you may prefer Ssal, or rice, which layers rice with vanilla and cedarwood.
Other than its perfume, which can be difficult to find in Singapore, Chwi also offers compact perfume balm sticks, hand creams and more.
Where to buy: Olive Young
Sachal Perfume Balm, $34, Chwi at Olive Young
2. Slow Humming
The vibe: Unexpected, yet wearable fragrances
Slow Humming was founded by a team of fragrance enthusiasts who wanted to create scents that were unexpected and different from those already on the market. Its signature fragrance, Cabincedar, is a mossy, green and woody perfume inspired by Barimae Oreum, a famous volcanic cone on Jeju Island, though the brand has plenty of bestsellers that range from the florally and comforting Flower Soap, which has notes of cotton, iris and musk, and Lake Fog, a calming blend of bergamot and patchouli.
Its perfume balm is a particularly hot seller because of its portability, affordability, and how it makes a great gift for friends and family. K-Pop idol Chuu of Loona was also spotted carrying the brand’s Touch Peach scent on her bag as a keychain.
Where to buy: Olive Young | Yesstyle
Apple Vin Chaud Relief Perfume Balm, $31, Slow Humming at Olive Young
Related article: 9 Singapore Perfume Brands To Know And Shop Now
3. Sennok
The vibe: Clean and soapy scents
Inspired by the calm and cleansing ritual of taking a bath, this up-and-coming fragrance brand offers clean-smelling and soap-like scents. Its fragrances heavily feature fresh notes such as bergamot and jasmine, complemented by powdery musk, vanilla and incense, depending on which fragrance you pick, for a cosy finish.
Slow September is a gentle floral woody musk, for example, with floral accords and incense, musk and vetiver at its base; while Soap Clean Soap smells more clean, with bergamot, mint, jasmine and rose along with white musk and sandalwood.
In line with its inspiration, Sennok also has a line of body and haircare items such as a hair essence, treatment, plus hand creams and more.
Where to buy: Olive Young
Soap Clean Soap Perfume, $66, Sennok at Olive Young
4. Longtake
The vibe: Comforting and elevated woody fragrances
If you like luxurious scent profiles that feel like a relaxing walk through the woods, Longtake serves that up at a fraction of the price of many other brands out there. The underrated perfume brand spotlights three scents: Black Tea & Fig, which layers lemon and fig tree leaf with black tea, geranium and cashmere wood for an intoxicating and lingering fragrance; the spicy Sandalwood, which sees lime, eucalyptus and mint paired with amber, cardamom and leather; and the rejuvenating Basil & Vetiver, which has notes of orange, lime, basil and vetiver.
While its perfumes, housed in colourful 20ml glass bottles, are its main offering, Longtake does offer a comprehensive set of self-care must-haves too. Think: intensive shampoos, treatments, body washes and even a softening hair oil to scent and nourish your strands.
Where to buy: Olive Young
Sandalwood Eau De Parfum, $54, Longtake at Olive Young
5. Atelier Faye
The vibe: Classic floral perfumes perfect for gifting
For traditionally feminine perfumes that carry notes of rose, freesia, cotton and vanilla, try Atelier Faye for an affordable option that hits the mark. Packaged in sleek rectangular glass bottles with an image that captures the mood evoked from the fragrance, the brand has about 30 powdery and floral scents versatile enough for everyday wear.
Need recommendations? According to reviews on Atelier Faye’s site, Osmanthus Love seems to be the most popular option by far, with bright notes of peach and apricot, as well as osmanthus, white musk and jasmine. Other options include the sweet Vanilla & Musk for the gourmand girlies, which sees vanilla, coconut and sugar cane teamed with black orchid, amber and musk for depth, and Blair, a fresh floral and fruity fragrance with a kick from the pepper note.
Where to buy: Underwater Global on LazMall
Atelier Faye Osmanthus Love Eau De Perfume, $40, Underwater Global at LazMall
Related article: 10 Perfumes Korean Celebrities Love And Where To Buy Them In Singapore
6. Rbow
The vibe: Perfumes that combine sophisticated fragrances and art
Rbow is for the collectors who like their scents to look just as good as they smell. Founded by former art gallery director Kim So Hyung, the brand’s philosophy is essentially to create art objects you can use in your daily life. This takes the shape of an edit of EDPs with unusual fragrance combinations that range from Santal Bleu’s spicy pairing of ambrette, sandalwood and vetiver to Tokyo Fig’s smoother fig leaves, jasmine and white musk.
While it’s difficult to get your hands on perfumes from the relatively new brand here, you can still buy its hand and body lotions and solid perfumes in the Amber Sanguine and Monochrome scents.
Where to buy: Olive Young
Amber Sanguine Solid Perfume, $44, Rbow at Olive Young
7. After Blow
The vibe: Subtle fragrances you can use all day to enhance your own scent
Cute and vibrant packaging aside, After Blow is one of the more popular brands on this list for its how crowd-pleasing and fresh it is to wear—with fans even recommending users spray it on before bed—but it has some fun and trendy variations, too.
The newest offering from Dasique’s sister brand’s list is Pistachio Cream, which captures nutty pistachio, milky vanilla and white chocolate in a bottle. Hot sellers include Cotton Fog, a comforting scent blending uplifting geranium with musk and sandalwood, and Love Potion, a warm and romantic perfume with pear, cherry and vanilla notes.
Where to buy: Guardian | Shopee
Powdery Rose Eau De Perfume, $54, After Blow at Guardian
This article contains products independently selected by our team of editors and writers. If you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission. All prices listed are accurate at the time of publishing.