👃🏻 The Birth of MEDLEY’s Perfumes
Interview with Scentlife - The Art of Scent Behind Medley
👥 Introduction & How It All Began
Q. Could you briefly introduce yourself?
A. Hello, I’m so glad and honored to greet you through Medley, a brand I have grown to love deeply. We are the founders of the scent curation group Scentlife, where I am both lead curator and perfumer.
Q. How did you join the Medley project?
H: I still remember where I was standing during that very first call from Medley. Just hearing the brand story immediately made me feel a deep sense of connection. Music, that word alone was thrilling. And just as the two Meldey's founders have been building Medley together, this year marks 10 years of collaboration for the two of us as well ; such a meaningful milestone.
S: Looking back at how we first met and at the important moments in our journey, music always played a central role in connecting us emotionally. We went to concerts together, and even now music is always present in our workspace. Those moments shaped the affection and trust we share. So when Medley reached out, as music lovers we both felt it was a project we had to be part of.
H: Exactly. We had often been commissioned to develop scents for artists or performances, but creating fragrances with music genres themselves as the main characters ; that was a first, and an exciting new challenge for us.
🎼 The Language of Music & Scent
Q. How did you approach the idea of translating music genres into scents?
H: The greatest similarity between scent and music is that neither can be seen. With Medley’s perfumes, these small bottles you can hold in your hand, we wanted to make these two invisible senses rise and bloom together.
S: Hearing and smell belong to very different sensory realms, but they share one trait: both are highly subjective. Depending on memories and experiences, they feel different to each person. When applying this subjectivity to our work, I saw it as diversity and freedom ; there was no need to be trapped in a rigid frame.
🎵 Three Genres, Three Scents
Q. How did you interpret Jazz, Classical, and Pop?
S: We studied each genre broadly, but what mattered most was understanding Medley’s own perspective on these musical styles. The brand’s creative brief was very detailed ; it described the moods and direction of each genre clearly, and that became our guiding map. Personally, I rely more on intuition than on strict formulas, so rather than calculating every note, I chose the key accords that could express the essence, then built the compositions around them.
H: Once we had determined the main olfactive families, we refined the details by comparing the genres against each other. One important realization we had was that even within a single genre, there are many nuances. So instead of boxing them into clichés, we tried to highlight what made each one truly distinctive, while still maintaining balance across the collection as one family. For me, the brand’s vision was the most important compass ; Medley’s perfumes were co-created with the brand’s input, and aligning with their direction was essential to making this more than “just perfumes,” but true brand products.
🎧 Working with Music During the Process
Q. Did you actually listen to music while working?
S: Absolutely. Since we both love music, it’s always around us ; during work, and in daily life. Though at times, in busy periods, we do drift away from it.
H: I’m especially grateful to Medley. In recent years, I found myself consuming music passively, as mere background. But while working on this project, I deliberately listened to each genre’s music more deeply. It brought me back to really listening, not just hearing. That felt precious, and I thank Medley for giving me that gift.
🌿 Notes & Ingredients
Q. What were the key ingredients you used for each genre?
H: For CLASSICAL, I remember the final adjustment vividly—a touch of fresh florals layered over a base of rosewood and patchouli to echo the woody feel of string instruments. When smelling it again recently, I thought: if there’s ever a chance to launch another version, I’d love to create one that highlights the woodiness even more.
S: For JAZZ, vanilla and leather were central. Jazz as a genre evokes many moods, but for Medley, we leaned into its smooth, nutty warmth—like the intimate vibe of a refined jazz bar. For POP, I included one of my favorite notes: apricot, which perfectly captured the bright, uplifting energy we wanted.
⚖️ Challenges & Difficulties
Q. Which scent was the hardest to create?
S: For me, Jazz. I imagined customers would have specific expectations for how Jazz “should” smell, so I put a lot of thought into making that first impression both familiar and surprising.
H: If we’re speaking only in terms of fragrance composition, I’d say Classical was the hardest. It was the last to be completed, and we struggled at first with where to focus: floral or woody? Both are such broad categories. Even after we had a version, I worried it felt too common. But with feedback and refinement, it became something unique to Medley.
🌍 Cultural Context & Inspiration
Q. As a Franco-Korean brand, did this cultural background influence your process?
H: Absolutely. France is inseparable from the history of perfumery, so just that connection felt special. And working with two founders who represent both cultures gave us rich feedback that pushed us to approach things more freely, without limits.
S: The artwork from Medley’s French graphic designer made a strong first impression, it was inspiring. We wanted the scents to harmonize with the visuals, not clash. We even referred to the artworks while composing. I’m looking forward to seeing the illustrations for the upcoming perfumes too.
💭 Feelings & Emotions
Q. What emotions do you hope people feel when experiencing Medley’s perfumes?
S: For years we’ve asked ourselves this. Sometimes we hoped fragrances could inspire daily life, sometimes spark curiosity about scent itself. Lately, my biggest wish is simple: that they make people feel good. Especially since Medley’s scents are built around music, I hope people feel the same anticipation and joy they feel when pressing play on a new song.
H: I’d love for people to feel both familiarity and newness. Like when you hear a familiar piece rearranged into something fresh. From the “familiar” side, I hope it evokes cherished memories and nostalgia; from the “new,” I hope it sparks excitement for the future. If both emotions are found within the fragrance, that would be perfect.
🎶 Parallels Between Music & Scent
Q. In your opinion, how are music and fragrance alike?
S: Both can easily slip past unnoticed if you don’t pay attention. But the more you tune in, the richer and deeper the experience becomes.
H: Exactly. Just as hearing and listening are different, so are smelling and truly noticing scents. And yet, in today’s busy lives filled with content and distractions, it’s also beautiful that music and scent can simply serve as gentle backdrops, only to step forward and shine in special moments.
✨ Memorable Moments
Q. Were there any memorable episodes during the process?
H: When working on Classical, one version accidentally had too much floral, and at first I wasn’t sure, but we included it as a sample. Surprisingly, it became the final version, and that floral note gave the sachets a powerful lift. It reminded me that sometimes bold accidents lead to the best results.
S: Beyond composition, I remember the production stage clearly, testing concentration for diffusion, adjusting viscosity for better use, refining details like the rollerball packaging after launch. I learned so much from the brand’s meticulous attention to quality.
💌 Closing & Future Plans
Q. Are there hidden details in the formulas not listed in the official recipes?
S: This time, everything was straightforward and honest. But next time, I’ll be sure to hide a secret note. 😊
Q. Are there scents or genres you’d like to explore in the future?
S: The mention of “Korean ingredients” earlier really struck me. With the growing love for Korean culture, it would be meaningful to develop a fragrance rooted in Korean raw materials and music together.
H: I imagine something inspired by lyrical songs, like art songs within the classical tradition. It could result in a fragrance that feels universally comforting.
Q. What stands out most from this project?
S: That we worked with joy and gratitude. I truly believe the emotions of the creator are transmitted to those who experience the work. I hope Medley’s perfumes bring happiness and freedom to people, freedom from boundaries, rules, or limits.
H: For me, it all comes back to music. Many people assume perfume itself is the main star, but in my work, it’s often the other way around, perfume exists because something else comes first. For Medley, that was music. These scents were born from music. So I hope people are reminded of music in their daily lives, while also experiencing Medley and Scentlife’s interpretation of music through fragrance.