A CONVERSATION WITH
HYEMIN AN
For Hyemin An, perfume is a way of expressing what words cannot.
Born in Korea, her life and creative journey have taken her between Chile, the country where she grew up, the Nordic sensibility she discovered during her stay in Copenhagen, and Madrid, the city where she lives and develops her creative universe today. This is why her perspective has been built between cultures, memories, and different ways of understanding beauty.
Through Intrépida Atelier, she creates signature fragrances that awaken deep emotions and explore memory, with the genuine intention of inviting people to live more slowly, to look inward, and to reconnect with what is essential.
In this conversation, we delve into the universe of a creator with her own light, capable of honoring the invisible and finding in it a way to leave a mark.
What is your first memory related to a scent? And what role have scents played in your life?
I couldn't tell you if it's my first olfactory memory, but it's undoubtedly the most potent: the smell of cigarettes. My father smoked a lot, and he always carried that smell of tobacco, ash, those woody notes, and a hint of burnt tea. Clearly, as a child, I didn't like that smell so much that I even cut his cigarettes with scissors so he couldn't smoke. He could do nothing but laugh at this small gesture of rebellion and care.
My father passed away when I turned 12. And one of the things I managed to keep was his pajamas that smelled like him. It was an object that became a refuge during mourning; it helped me remember him, to bring him back in some way. That's how I discovered that scents not only evoke moments but also bring back the people we love and accompany us to move forward.
How did you discover that perfume could become a form of expression?
There's a beautiful concept in the world of perfumery called Liquid Memory. It's the ability of scents to make us relive emotions through time. This happens because the sense of smell is the only sense that connects directly to the limbic system, where memory and emotions are housed. That's why a fragrance can transport us to a moment, a place, or a sensation that we even thought we had forgotten. Choosing a fragrance is, in a way, deciding how we want to be remembered. It's designing the emotional memory of others towards us. And that's when I understood that perfume is also a form of expression. It's a silent but deeply personal and honest language.
Intrépida Atelier was born out of that process. What personal or creative need led you to shape it?
Intrépida was born after three years working in service design consulting, in both public and private sectors. It was an area I was good at, but deep down in my heart, it didn't spark any creative flame. Until one day, I resigned and decided to take a trip through Chilean Patagonia. On that trip, I connected deeply with myself, with the present, and with the need to create something of my own: a brand that reflected my beliefs and my way of seeing life. That's how Intrépida Atelier was born.
What does Intrépida Atelier mean to you?
Intrépida is a very important part of me. With my brand, I always seek to speak from my own experience, to show myself and be as authentic and human as possible. There were times when I wanted the brand to be more "professional," more "serious." I tried that strategy, but I realized that people are looking for something else; they are looking for genuine connection, for understanding, reflection, and for feeling part of a community where they feel supported. Through my brand, I can express myself, share myself, and also connect with others. It has been an infinite joy to meet people and projects with soul, find ways to collaborate, or simply sit down for coffee and get to know each other. It is a fundamental part of who I am today, not only professionally, but also and above all personally.
Hyemin with the Ifach ring and the Bernia earrings and bracelet.
Your creative universe is characterized by calm, observation, and intention. How do these values influence your creative process?
These values are fundamental to my creative process. I constantly seek calm, a place from which I can observe, introspect, and arrive at a concept with which I identify or which awakens something in me. Intention, for its part, is key to creating, as I am unable to carry something out if there isn't an intention behind it. Each fragrance is first born as an idea that I need to feel is true before I begin to build it.
What importance do raw materials have in this process? And what value does time hold?
Raw materials are the essential tool for shaping a fragrance, for translating what I have in my mind and turning it into a tangible smell. I work with both natural and synthetic raw materials. There is a great stigma about synthetic materials, because they are considered ignoble, even toxic, but in the world of perfumery, natural materials can be as or more harmful than synthetics if used in incorrect proportions. Furthermore, working only with natural materials reduces the available olfactory palette and makes it difficult to achieve fragrances with more layers or depth.
On the other hand, I consider time as another ingredient when creating a scent. Time is needed not only to find the calm and intention behind a fragrance but also as part of a resting and maturation process. And when we work with the sense of smell, breaks are fundamental: olfactory fatigue is real, and without time to rest the sense, it is impossible to create with clarity.
We live in a profoundly visual culture, and your work is precisely about giving value to the invisible. What do you think the sense of smell allows us to discover that other senses cannot reveal?
This is one of the biggest challenges I face today with Intrépida. We live in a profoundly visual culture, where everything is seen, and it's difficult to convey something like a fragrance, which is invisible to the eye. I have to appeal to emotions, try to reach something deeper and more intimate, and that's not so easy in a world as fast-paced as the one we live in today. But I believe that's precisely where its value lies: the sense of smell allows us to discover what cannot be seen or touched, but can be felt. It connects us with memories, moments, and emotions that we often have forgotten, dormant somewhere in our memory. My invitation is for us to smell more, to take the time to notice the aromas around us, because in that lies a way to get to know ourselves and to remember who we are.
Hyemin with the Naxos Onyx necklace and the Benissa silver earrings.
How would you define your lifestyle?
Today, I have a rather quiet lifestyle. A few years ago, I loved to travel, finding inspiration in different countries and cultures. But today, I feel more of a desire to settle down, to nest and put down roots. In my daily life, I pay special attention to emotional well-being. I try to have slower mornings, eat breakfast calmly, and write in my notebook to release thoughts and emotions. I try to work at a flexible pace, because rigidity and fixed schedules tend to exhaust and consume me. In the afternoons, I disconnect from work, go for a walk with my dog Milanesa, or run an errand. And I dedicate my weekends more to exploring the city, socializing, and simply enjoying myself.
What inspires you in your daily life?
Nature inspires me a lot, even though I'm not always so close to it. In those moments, I look for small pieces of nature around me, like buying fresh flowers, going for a walk in the neighborhood, and stopping to observe the trees. Art is also a place I constantly turn to for inspiration and simply to feel. Especially paintings. It's not just the visual that inspires me, but their colors, the story behind each one. There is something magical and silent, a secret connection between the painting and the observer. Everyone receives something different. The same thing happens with fragrances; everyone feels something different and personal when smelling a scent. And finally, sharing also inspires me a lot. I feel there is a very interesting world behind each person, and beautiful synergies can arise from that. Learning how other creatives and artists work, sharing the difficulties we face as entrepreneurs, human connection in general inspires me infinitely.
At this point in my life, where do I want to go?
I feel like I'm at a point where I want to go deeper, rather than expand outwards. After years of a lot of movement and changes like travel, moving, and building Intrépida in Spain, today I want to put down roots, both in my personal life and in my brand. I want to continue creating with the same intention and honesty with which I started, but with more calm, without the urgency of proving something or growing quickly at any cost.
I also want to continue deepening my understanding of what matters most to me: human connection. To create spaces, fragrances, and moments that invite people to pause, to feel, and to remember what is essential. If Intrépida can continue to be that place of pause for others, just as it has been for me, I feel like I'm going in the right direction.
Hyemin with the Ifach ring and the earrings and the Bernia bracelet. Next to the Intrépida candles, the Delos silver pendant.
What does a piece of jewelry represent to you?
For me, a piece of jewelry is very similar to a fragrance, a small object that holds something much larger. It's not just what you see, but what it symbolizes, what it reminds you of, and what connects us to a person, a moment, or a version of ourselves.
Do you have any that are special because of what they symbolize or remind you of?
My engagement ring is a piece of jewelry I adore. My boyfriend, Álvaro, designed it with the brand Leandra, and it's a ring I never plan to take off. It represents me so much; I feel very much reflected in it. Another very special piece of jewelry is a Cartier watch I inherited from my mother when I came to live in Europe. It was the first luxury watch she bought herself and wore without remorse. When I wear it, I feel like I carry a part of her with me; I think of her youth, of those vital moments of hard work, pride, and motivation.
