Tucked away in a miniature hanok down the hill from Bukchon’s celebrated Gahoe-dong Alley is GRANDHAND’s flagship store. With the combination of a bold brass sign and sweet and colorful fragrances welcoming its visitors, ‘charming’ is probably the best word to describe its vibe.
Upon entering the venue, you may feel as if you're at a small Korean antique store located in the middle of the fashionable Marais district of Paris. But as the fragrances subtly hint its identity, GRANHAND carries artisan candles, home diffusers, sachets, oil burners and perfume.
Jung Nana, the co-owner (the other being her younger brother), is a skillful parfumier who studied at the Grasse Institute of Perfumery (GIP) in France, which is known to be one of the top schools in the world to study the art form. The two of the most popular scents are Marine Vatch which has a bold combination of musk, toffee and patchouli and Ester Dean which refreshing notes of cedar, musk and amber. The scented soy candles which come in a Korean traditional pot, hangari, is a perfect item for adding a Korean touch to an interior. The perfumery also offers stamping options (of initials, names, etc.) for personalizing its products.
Back when Chanel was in Seoul for their Cruise collection, it chose this local haute brand to gift their VIP guests. It's certainly a lot of trust that came from one of the top luxury brands, and you'll understand why upon visiting this petite shop—where quality and elegance is bottled with confidence and care.