“When I suffered from insomnia about ten years ago, I happened to meet Jang Dong-hoon, a doctor of Korean medicine, who prescribed some tea for me. The tea was to calm the mind and body, yet it actually produced some significant changes in my skin. My skin looked more radiant, clearer and brighter. This was when the idea of ‘Eath Library’ took root, as I analyzed the substances of the efficacious tea. The scientific analysis found substances with potent skin whitening and antioxidant effects from the recipe containing red ginseng, deer antler and Rehmannia glutinosa. And we even got a patent for the substances—the active youth molecule (AYM) substances from which we launched this brand,” said designer Teo Yang, as he explained how Eath Library was launched. Eath Library is a skin care brand launched based on the unique careers of its two founders—Designer Teo Yang and Korean Medicine Doctor Jang Dong-hoon. The skin care brand combines natural ingredients based on traditional Korean medicine with up-to-date technologies. The products use no chemicals or preservatives that are harmful to the body, and the rich antioxidant effect of patented AYM substances removes free oxygen radicals. A modern version of a traditional Korean library, the showroom is furnished with old pieces, such as a small dining table, that are interpreted with a modern touch and in cooperation with artisans. Perhaps this is why the showroom feels like a work of art in itself, rather than a just space for selling products. Entering the showroom, you will be served a cup of tea, which is the beginning of delicate and sincere services.

Walking toward Seoul Forest, you can see “Sabai-Arom” at a corner in Seongsu-dong. As you enter the shop, you will be greeted by the gentle and refreshing scent of rosemary. The cosmetic products the store has on display use 100% plant-derived ingredients extracted from herbs and tropical plants. If you apply just a drop of hand cream or essential oil, you will feel as if you are in a forest in Thailand. A vegan cosmetics brand from Thailand, Sabai-Arom uses plant ingredients directly provided by farmers, with no animal ingredients whatsoever. The space has a comfortable ambience, thanks to the hanging plants, green plants placed around the store, wood-toned walls and furniture arranged in harmony. If you open and smell the rose essential oil and mist of Lanna Rose de Siam, you will feel your tense muscles slowly relaxing before you know it. With its refreshing herbal scent, the Lemongrass Fragrance Oil is also worth trying.

This store, with a refreshing and neat green interior that one notices immediately, is directly managed by Mary Cohr, a French aesthetics brand. Here, you can experience the product quality and treatment expertise of Mary Cohr, developed over more than 40 years. Mary Cohr’s signature program is “Catio Vital,” which provides customized ionization care and lifting and body slimming care for 50 minutes. The signature program is characterized by effectively dissolving cellulite and fat through the use of ionized slimming gel in a heating mode. If you suddenly go on a diet, you are likely to get cellulite, which can be effectively removed by Catio Vital. Enjoy the pleasure of receiving French-style care from professional trainers and therapists, lying on a waterbed in a private environment. In all care programs, disposable products are used for one person only, so you do not need to worry about hygiene problems. After receiving care, you can try products such as collagen serum, eye cream, and cellulite body serum, and purchase them on the spot.

Filled with different kinds of refreshing plants, “House of Aromatic” is a place where you can experience first-hand the sustainable beauty philosophy of Aromatica, a naturalistic brand based on aromatherapy. If you bring empty containers to Save the Planet, you can learn how to distinguish between recyclable and unrecyclable materials and how to separate and discharge empty containers, including pump dispensers. At Save the Skin, you can see the clean ingredients that Aromatica has selected with care from all around the world, as well as the five-step extraction process it uses to obtain extracts from medicinal herbs. Zero Waste Zone selects and introduces eco-friendly products that are helpful for sustainable environments. Those products include 100% biodegradable products, products made of vegetable materials, and reusable products that can replace disposable plastics. At A+ Kitchen, you can enjoy some complimentary herbal tea. If you bring an empty container, you can scoop all the Aromatica products you want into the container and get a 30% discount on all Aromatica products you purchase. For information about the classes offered here, please visit the official Instagram account of Aromatica (@aromatica.life).

You can enjoy luxurious hotel-like spa services, including massages, a private rest and differentiated services at La virgule spa, located in Seorae Village. The French word “virgule” means “comma,” or “rest.” As the spa aims to provide a “thorough rest” with zero distractions, it not only focuses on massage services but also gives detailed attention to the surrounding environments and even trivial services, which is impressive. The spa room includes a dressing room, a shower room, and a footbath room, all for you to enjoy private spa services. The spa has a 100% reservation system, which means that you have zero chance of encountering other visitors, from the moment you enter the spa until you exit it. One of the special features of La virgule spa is the “one-on-one customized counseling.” Instead of providing spa programs based on a manual, the appropriate spa care is provided according to the customer’s body and skin conditions on that day. You can enjoy various care programs designed just for you, ranging from Total Care to Facial/Body Intensive Care to Postpartum Care. In addition, it is a strict rule of La virgule spa not to pressure visitors into purchasing a membership; you can simply pay for the services at each visit. CEO Song Gi-hyuk said, “Our goal is to provide a complete rest to a small number of customers who visit this place because they trust in our services, rather than provide services that would satisfy all people.” The spa is recommended for people who want to have some time just for themselves.

Located in Jamsil, Seoul, “For U Slim Body” is a spa that is optimized for dieting and uses electro muscular stimulation (EMS). Here you can enjoy genuine spa services, not just esthetic treatments. Its main service is Spa Pool, and sub services include beauty services, such as massage, meridian and skincare. While taking a comfortable rest in warm water, you can feel your blood circulation become more active and your body fat dissolving. This is more than just feeling good or refreshed after normal spa services. After each care session, you get an InBody checkup and see body fat decrease, which is an added benefit. Electro muscular stimulation (EMS) is often used in exercise and dieting in North America and Europe. By flowing fine electric impulses in different parts of the body, you can enjoy the benefits of lengthy exercise after exercising for only a short period of time. You can lose 500 g to 2 kg in body fat after just one session of spa services, and the spa will provide figures and graphs showing the changes in your body, which have received a good response from users. The spa is located right in front of the Olympic Village and frequented by many athletes. The spa also offers a bodyline care using “bentonite,” or mineral volcanic ash, which is different from a general mud wrap. Bentonite contains about 60 minerals, more than five times the number of minerals contained in general mud, and helps make a smooth and firm body line. If you want to experience the results, you can visit the spa for a complimentary experience.

Is a fragrance fiction or nonfiction? We call something invisible and untouchable a fiction. Yet a fragrance lingers at the tip of the nose, and is used as a means to express oneself. The perfume brand “Nonfiction” was launched with the idea that a perfume is a medium for revealing one’s inner power. The brand is led by Cha Hye-young, CEO of Studio Concrete, a creative group. Its product line consists of perfumes, body washes, body lotions, hand creams and other items that you use to start your day and throughout the day. While the attractive fragrances can be described in words, when choosing a fragrance, smelling it yourself is always the best approach. Smelling the fragrances is not the only reason to recommend a visit to Nonfiction’s showroom. All scenes in the showroom are like complete images containing objets, lightings and flower settings that can give good inspiration to anyone. According to CEO Cha, the decorations of Nonfiction’s showroom were inspired by pictures taken by the photographer Mark Borthwick. Cha said that a warm and sunny space came to mind when looking at the photographer’s pictures showing the harmonized arrangement of plants and furniture pieces. Maybe this is why the showroom looks more beautiful when the sun shines down, starting to decline between one and three in the afternoon. The warmth brings a cozy and comfortable ambience to the space, which may make you feel like staying there for a long time.

Located in a downtown area, “Olivine Spa” offers a range of beauty programs such as prepartum and postpartum massages and fitness care in connection with Olivium Postnatal Care Center and Seran General Hospital. The spa shares the building with Olivium Postnatal Care Center, the largest postnatal care center in Korea, has outstanding facilities and offers the excellent services of professional spa therapists. In addition to medical care, you can also receive systematic beauty and body care to take care of fitness, stretchmarks, edema, dry/acne/sensitive skin and other changes occurring due to pregnancy. Olivine Spa offers a customized one-on-one care system to help women suffering from obesity, aging and chronic fatigue regain healthy and balanced bodies. You can experience massages performed by professional therapists with at least 10 years of experience, and will be satisfied with products from global luxury brands, such as Les Nouvels Aromes from Switzerland and Bernard Cassière from France. The spa offers a range of programs, including Full Body Care which uses aromatherapy to help promote psychological stability, Anti-aging Care which helps skin regeneration through a scientific skin type analysis, and Deep Energy Care which helps patients with stressed and fatigued bodies regain their natural balance. Customized spa programs are also available for single, pregnant, postpartum, middle-aged and elderly women. These programs are recommended for people who want to receive systematic care at an outstanding facility. Please note that the popularity of these programs can mean that it is difficult to make a reservation.