[Jung Yu-jin's Scent Walk] Scent, the Language of Sensation that Awakens the Forgotten Self

As I teach, when people catch a whiff of the scent, I first observe their expressions rather than the fragrance itself. The slight relaxation around their eyes, the dropping of shoulders, the deepening of breaths. Sometimes, I even read the traces of fatigue that are deeply embedded beyond that.

Watching those immersed in scent, regardless of age or gender, everyone becomes momentarily pure like a child. Every time I face the clear faces in serene concentration, I am reminded of how precious these fleeting moments are.

In fact, my first profession was as a radiologic technologist, far removed from scent. In the cold air of the hospital, people sat in a line, anxiously waiting for their turn. In that tense landscape, I too spent my days holding my breath.

Then one day, trivial yet vivid sensations began to overlap and approach me. The warm morning sunlight seeping through the window, the chirping of birds, the cool air rushing in as soon as I opened the window, and the temperature of a cup of coffee. Suddenly, all those everyday moments began to be read as 'scent'.

That was when I first realised. Scent is not just something you smell with your nose, but a sensation that you embrace with your entire life. I felt a strong conviction that it was too precious to keep this wondrous sensation to myself. There was no hesitation. Thus, I stepped into the world of scent in an instant.

After learning about scent, my world changed completely. Food, landscapes, even encounters with people began to leave behind a unique scent. The air of the day, the temperature of the season, even fleeting emotions were naturally recorded. Thanks to this, the texture of my life became much richer and sturdier than before.

During class, one person who was smelling the scent with their eyes closed quietly murmured, “Ah... suddenly, I feel a bit more at ease.” That one phrase became a milestone for me. ‘I am not someone who creates scent, but someone who feels people's emotions and translates them into scent.’

Scent is truly unique. It is faster than words, deeper than thoughts, and without explanation, it seeps deep into the heart. Therefore, I do not consider scent to be just a simple smell. I believe it is the most honest language that gently awakens forgotten emotions and memories.

The scents I create are not extravagant. I aim for scents that provide reassurance rather than admiration of being “strong”, and scents that prioritise breathability over chasing trends. Above all, I hope it is a scent that allows one to be most honest with oneself.

Recently, while conducting collaborative classes with Pilates instructor Hong Seok-jun, I have become convinced of something. When you move your body to open your senses, scent reaches deeper places. In that wondrous process of feeling breath, body, and mind in turn, I quietly become a supporter.

I want to be this kind of scent artist. Someone who believes in their own senses rather than trends, chooses breathing simplicity over complexity, and creates scents that linger rather than those meant for sale. A person who believes in the power of slow, accumulating change rather than quick results.

In the future, through this column, I hope to share how scent touches our bodies, the intimate stories of those I meet in class, the trials and errors I experience as a scent artist, and the relationship between space and emotion.

I hope this will be a record that helps me understand ‘myself’ a little more deeply through the medium of scent, rather than a piece that presents answers.

I am An Sol, a scent artist who translates emotions into scent.

Written by: Jung Yu-jin (Scent Artist An Sol) @ansol.scent
- Operating the ‘Pilates & Scent’ wellness programme
- Producing and selling scent products
- Collaboration and product sponsorship with PERE
- Church scent project collaboration
- Brand and space scent development & class planning