Many people think of fragrance blending as just mixing scents, but Petit Marteau seeks something slightly different. Scent can feel different depending on the surrounding environment. If the right space is provided for a specific scent, it will maximize the experience for people who enjoy it. Petit Marteau aims to create the perfect ‘marriage’ between space and scent, rather than just simple blending.Min Kyung-jun, the founder of Petit Marteau
Min Kyung-jun, the founder of Petit Marteau, believes that scent is not solely dependent on smell, but can also vary depending on other senses such as sight, touch, and hearing. “Even a specific scent can feel different in a dark cave and a bright restaurant.” Taking these factors into account, he and his team work to find the perfect scent for each space.
Petit Marteau, which means ‘little hammer’ in French, was created with the idea that even a small action can have a significant impact. Min hopes that his fragrances will offer subtle but significant benefits to his customers with a small dose of spray.
Min’s background is unique. He started his career as a bartender in his early twenties, where he developed his interest in perfumery after noticing similarities between whiskey and perfume. He later obtained a bartender’s license and began to explore the world of fragrance.
Petit Marteau has been making innovative strides in the fragrance industry, broadening the scope of perfumery with attempts to infuse scents into music and other art forms. Jazz pianist Heo Dae-wook even composed ‘The Feeling of Scent’ after being inspired by Petit Marteau’s main product, ‘Void.’
Petit Marteau is a company that creates fragrances for various luxury restaurants in South Korea, such as Wolfgang’s Steakhouse, Zest Seoul, SAV Seoul, and The Balvenie Bar. Min emphasizes the importance of thorough research for his clients. Based on brand history, clients’ direction and philosophy of brand founders, he accordingly creates unique scent. Petit Marteau uses over 200 ingredients for scent work, and the actual work can take over a month to complete.
This year, Petit Marteau plans to expand its business to larger spaces like hotels and lounges. They are specifically targeting Japan to promote Korean scents. The ChosunBiz recently interviewed him at the Petit Marteau office in Gangnam, Seoul.
Can you introduce Petit Marteau?
“Petit Marteau is a company that specializes in enhancing spaces with unique scents, creating subtle yet distinctive experiences for our customers. Our main product, ‘Void,’ has been our staple item since 2019, and we have already sold nearly 1000 bottles, with the remaining stock close to being sold out.”
How does Petit Marteau scent spaces?
“We possess a collection of more than 200 ingredients. Before creating blends, we conduct a thorough analysis of our clients or the brands they represent. In the case of a brand, we examine its past, future goals, and visual identity to comprehend the consumer’s tastes and preferences and then commence the blending process. Our main objective is to create a distinctive formula that does not replicate any other brand in the market.”
What brands are you currently collaborating with?
“We mainly serve luxury restaurants such as Wolfgang’s Steakhouse, SAV Seoul, Zest Seoul, and People The Terrace. Each brand has its own unique scent, allowing for trademark registration.”
Do you also consider the method of diffusion?
“Certainly. When we set up the diffuser machine, we take into account the space and its layout. We carefully consider the airflow and adjust the diffusion speed and timing accordingly. Just like sound waves have different effects on the ear, scents can also be experienced differently. To ensure the best scent experience for the customer, we optimize the diffusion method, timing, and space shape.”
Have you worked on scenting music and art?
“We developed our main product, Void, inspired by a contemporary artist Cho Jae-man’s artwork, ‘Feeling of Color’. We carefully blended scents while considering the colors and wavering ripples of the artwork. To create a feeling of strong rippling, we increased the number of blending ingredients, resulting in a complex scent. In addition, pianist Huh Dae-wook composed a piece of music that was inspired by our product.”
Any other unique endeavors?
“We are reaching out to musicians and expanding our services in that area. As part of this effort, we recently participated in Kevin Oh’s concert. Kevin Oh is a winner of the Superstar K competition. For his day and night performances, we created different scents to match the mood of his songs. Additionally, we collaborated with the brand SENSORAMA, which is directed by Song Min-ho, also known as MINO. We created diffuser rings and other related products together.”
What qualifications do you have?
“I hold a bartender’s license and several perfumery-related qualifications. I learned perfumery at GN Perfume & Flavor School, certified by Galliard in France, holding 2nd and 3rd level perfumery qualifications. I also have ISDH level 1 certification from the International School of Design Handcraft and am working as a chief perfumer there.”
Any memorable moments?
“In 2017, I took part in the Glenfiddich WMEB competition and secured the first position in Korea. As per the competition requirements, I created three edible perfumes which matched Glenfiddich’s ‘water, air, malt’ concept. These perfumes could be sprayed on the body and also added to cocktails. The water product had a watery scent, malt had a barley scent, and the air product was inspired by whiskey oak barrels and had a mossy scent.”
What are Petit Marteau’s goals for this year?
“We aim to expand our scenting business to larger venues like hotels and lounges, with a particular focus on Japan. Our goal is to create a relaxing experience for hotel guests using Petit Marteau’s scents. We believe that hotels, visited by many, provide the perfect opportunity to maximize the impact of our fragrances.”
Lastly, any message for the readers?
“I aim to offer relaxation in the midst of the busy and hectic lifestyle with the help of fragrances. Our plan is to expand our business globally and introduce unique Korean fragrances to the world. Korea has an array of distinguishable scents, such as jujube and licorice that are commonly used in traditional medicine, as well as the scent of paper. Our ultimate goal is to make these scents from Korea popular and to grow our business internationally.”
