Walking away with a custom-made fragrance that perfectly reflected my personality was one of the most memorable experiences of my time in Kyoto.
While exploring the historic streets surrounding Kiyomizu-dera Temple, I visited My Only Fragrance Kiyomizu, a unique fragrance shop that allows visitors to create a scent that is entirely their own. What began as a fun activity quickly became one of my favorite experiences in Japan because it was so personal, interactive and unlike anything I had ever done before.
Located along the historic Sannenzaka area near Kiyomizu-dera, My Only Fragrance specializes in custom-made perfumes created through a guided blending experience. Rather than purchasing a fragrance that others may wear, visitors have the opportunity to create a scent that is completely unique to them. The store has become increasingly popular among both tourists and locals because of its personalized approach and the memorable experience it provides.
The process was surprisingly simple and enjoyable. Upon arriving, I was paired with a fragrance adviser who guided me through the entire experience. The shop features dozens of different fragrances, each labeled with a number rather than a scent name. This encourages visitors to focus entirely on what they enjoy smelling instead of being influenced by familiar fragrance labels.
I spent time testing various scents on paper strips and narrowed my choices down to three fragrances that reminded me of lemons, fresh flowers, and clean laundry. I’ve always been drawn to fresh, sweet scents because they remind me a little of home!
Once I selected my fragrances, my adviser helped me and a few other SJMC Japan students determine the ideal balance and proportions to create a scent that perfectly matched what each of us was looking for. Because every fragrance is hand-selected and blended in unique proportions, it cannot be recreated unless you specifically request the same scent combination and percentages.
Fortunately, you receive a card containing all of your perfume’s information, making it easy to recreate your custom fragrance—as long as you don’t lose the card! That’s one of the reasons I wanted to participate in this experience: it allowed me to create something truly personal and unique that can’t easily be replicated!
What made the experience so special was the level of personalization involved. Every adjustment mattered. Adding just a small amount of one fragrance could completely transform the overall scent profile. My adviser carefully listened to my preferences and offered suggestions while still allowing me to make the final decisions.
It felt less like shopping and more like collaborating on a creative project. By the end of the experience, I had created a fragrance that felt uniquely mine and named it “Ellen Marle.” It was supposed to be “Ellen Marie,” a combination of my first and middle name, but my handwriting confused the employee! The unexpected mix-up only added to the charm of the experience, and I love it just the same!
One of the most enjoyable parts of the experience was naming the fragrance. After finalizing the blend, I was able to choose a custom name that was printed directly onto the bottle label. This small detail made the final product feel even more personal and transformed it into a meaningful souvenir rather than just another purchase. The ability to leave with something that I helped create made the experience far more memorable than simply buying a bottle of perfume off a shelf.
The pricing was also very reasonable considering the level of customization involved. A 50-milliliter custom fragrance typically starts around ¥6,500, while larger 100-milliliter bottles generally range from approximately ¥6,600 to ¥9,500 depending on the type of fragrance selected and any additional customizations. Based on current exchange rates, this is roughly $45 to $65 USD. Considering that many designer fragrances cost significantly more and are mass-produced, I found the price to be an excellent value for a completely custom scent and personalized experience.
Beyond creating a fragrance, My Only Fragrance offers visitors an opportunity to capture a memory of their trip through scent. Fragrance has a unique ability to trigger memories, and every time I use my custom perfume, I am reminded of walking through Kyoto’s historic streets, visiting temples and experiencing Japanese culture. Unlike souvenirs that sit on a shelf, this is something I can actively use and enjoy long after returning home.
What I found most impressive about My Only Fragrance was how welcoming and approachable the experience was. Even though I had no background knowledge of perfume creation, the staff made the process easy to understand and enjoyable from beginning to end. Their guidance allowed me to feel confident in my choices while still giving me complete creative freedom. The atmosphere was relaxed, friendly and focused entirely on helping each customer create a fragrance that reflected their individual tastes!
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