meet Seunghyun Lim, the perfumer who moves between Seoul and Jeju—an island off the coast of South Korea known for its volcanic landscapes and citrus trees. Through her brand Circle of Lim, she weaves stories of nature's beauty into each of her scents, working exclusively with natural materials.
How did your journey as a perfumer begin, and what has shaped it along the way?
I split my time between one of the world’s fastest-paced cities, Seoul, and Jeju, an island filled with citrus trees. Even in a city of asphalt and concrete, I always sought to stay close to living things—whether by keeping potted plants or taking walks in the park. I wanted to fill the emptiness—one that couldn’t be satisfied by material things—with an invisible energy from nature. I believe that fragrance brings us as close to nature as possible—so close that it momentarily becomes part of us when we inhale it. Inspired by humanity’s long tradition of drawing on the power of plants, I wanted to explore the world of fragrance, which is how I began my journey through natural perfumery.
What emotions or memories do you hope to capture in your creations?
The starting points for my creations often arise from unexpected places. I aim to capture impressions from fleeting moments that might otherwise slip away. These inspirations might emerge from my engagement with other art forms—visual art, music, literature—or from personal experiences like travel, food, or the weather.
As an artist who works primarily with scent, what is your relationship to our other senses?
I view all senses as part of an organic flow, much like the circle of life—flowers blooming, withering, and blooming again. While scent is the main tool of my art, it inherently holds elements of seeing, hearing, tasting, and touching. Even when smelling the same fragrance, people recall different memories based on their unique experiences. Those memories come alive with scenes, sounds, the emotions, and textures of that moment. Since we perceive scent alongside these other senses, everyone experiences it differently. To me, fragrance is a pure and intuitive expression, unaffected by gender, culture, religion, or age. I believe natural ingredients, when they’re used with as little alteration as possible, best evoke this purity of experience.
How do the landscapes, textures, and cultures that surround you find their way into your practice?
To me, landscapes, textures, and cultures act as conduits for emotions, conveying universal feelings such as joy, anger, sorrow, and love and beyond. When translating these impressions into fragrance, I return to the original sources—the landscapes, textures, and cultures that inspired me—to stay connected to their essence. For example, when a painting evokes a strong emotional response, I begin translating that feeling into a scent. This process involves studying the painting—its era, artist, colours, textures, and the story within—and refining the fragrance by adding or subtracting notes to capture its essence. From there, I work on creating harmony within the fragrance itself.
What is the story of your perfume Lost Generation?
"Lost Generation" is a phrase spoken by the writer and art dealer Gertrude Stein to Ernest Hemingway. It symbolizes the young people of that time who, traumatized by World War I and an uncertain future, lost their sense of values and drifted aimlessly. Though it belongs to a different era, this phrase feels just as fitting for those who struggle to find direction today. I imagine a tree standing in the cold, lonely streets of the city, witnessing the changes in the world, holds countless stories. This tree imparts both a sense of solitude and a quiet wisdom and courage that should not be forgotten. The fragrance captures this essence with the cold woody hinoki, smoky labdanum, and an incense-like scent, balanced with the soft sweetness of grapefruit. Ambrette seed and oakmoss add a damp, lingering nostalgia, allowing us to feel connected to our “lost” purpose in life.
discover the perfume in our discovery set:
As an artist who works primarily with scent, what is your relationship to our other senses?
I view all senses as part of an organic flow, much like the circle of life—flowers blooming, withering, and blooming again. While scent is the main tool of my art, it inherently holds elements of seeing, hearing, tasting, and touching. Even when smelling the same fragrance, people recall different memories based on their unique experiences. Those memories come alive with scenes, sounds, the emotions, and textures of that moment. Since we perceive scent alongside these other senses, everyone experiences it differently. To me, fragrance is a pure and intuitive expression, unaffected by gender, culture, religion, or age. I believe natural ingredients, when they’re used with as little alteration as possible, best evoke this purity of experience.
How do the landscapes, textures, and cultures that surround you find their way into your practice?
To me, landscapes, textures, and cultures act as conduits for emotions, conveying universal feelings such as joy, anger, sorrow, and love and beyond. When translating these impressions into fragrance, I return to the original sources—the landscapes, textures, and cultures that inspired me—to stay connected to their essence. For example, when a painting evokes a strong emotional response, I begin translating that feeling into a scent. This process involves studying the painting—its era, artist, colours, textures, and the story within—and refining the fragrance by adding or subtracting notes to capture its essence. From there, I work on creating harmony within the fragrance itself.
What is the story of your perfume Lost Generation?
"Lost Generation" is a phrase spoken by the writer and art dealer Gertrude Stein to Ernest Hemingway. It symbolizes the young people of that time who, traumatized by World War I and an uncertain future, lost their sense of values and drifted aimlessly. Though it belongs to a different era, this phrase feels just as fitting for those who struggle to find direction today. I imagine a tree standing in the cold, lonely streets of the city, witnessing the changes in the world, holds countless stories. This tree imparts both a sense of solitude and a quiet wisdom and courage that should not be forgotten. The fragrance captures this essence with the cold woody hinoki, smoky labdanum, and an incense-like scent, balanced with the soft sweetness of grapefruit. Ambrette seed and oakmoss add a damp, lingering nostalgia, allowing us to feel connected to our “lost” purpose in life.
