In the work of perfumer Hyemin An, founder of Intrépida Atelier, the process resembles poetry in its most rigorous sense: simple on the surface, yet complex and richly nuanced beneath. For her, creating a scent means listening and allowing notes and silences, much like in music, to find their place. In this conversation, she shares her way of approaching essence and how Luz, Materia and Silencio were born—three home fragrances created exclusively for RI HOUSE.
WHAT LED YOU TO CREATE YOUR OWN LANGUAGE THROUGH PERFUME?
My interest in perfume, and in scents in general, comes from a genuine need to express. It is the way I translate my inner world, my introspective processes, and that emotional sensitivity that sometimes does not fit into words. Smell, a sense that is often overlooked but deeply connected to our identity, is a direct bridge to memories, emotions, and fragments of history. There are memories that only scent can return to us, with great precision and depth. For this reason, fragrances became the way for me to give shape to what I could not articulate with my voice.
WHERE DOES A FRAGRANCE BEGIN?
For me, a fragrance begins with something invisible to the eye. Sometimes it is a faint memory that appears timidly. Other times it is a deep emotion that overwhelms you and asks to be translated.
WHAT ROLE DOES TIME PLAY IN THE CREATION OF A SCENT?
Time is another ingredient when creating a scent. A fragrance cannot be made in an instant. It takes time to understand what I truly want to express, to look inward, and to let these emotions transform into different notes. In this way, the fragrance builds itself in layers. Then the aroma needs to rest, settle, and stabilize before being revealed.
WHAT MUST A HOME FRAGRANCE ALWAYS HAVE?
For me, home is the place I always want to return to. A home fragrance must be able to hold and embrace, to contain warmth and softness. It should accompany the space without invading it, coexisting with what already lives around it. It should be able to set a rhythm, inviting you to slow down and inhabit with calm and gentleness. And above all, it must allow you to recognize that place as your own.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE FRAGRANCES CREATED FOR RI HOUSE?
The fragrances created for RI HOUSE arise from the idea of exploring different ways of inhabiting, connecting with the emotions and sensations that accompany each space and present moment. Materia is a warm and elegant fragrance, inspired by the nobility of natural materials and the beauty of craftsmanship. Luz is inspired by the rays of sunlight filtering through leaves, the silence of a mild morning, and the warmth of the sun on the skin. Silencio reflects moments of pause and living from within. It is a fragrance that conveys stillness and introspection.
HOW DOES THE SPACE YOU LOVE SMELL?
In simple words, it smells like all the things I love most.
More concretely:
It smells like books already read.
Like clean sheets drying in the sun.
Like a warm cup of coffee between my hands.
Like a half-open window and the light that slowly enters in the afternoon.
Like my mother’s hands.
Like the feeling of staying.
