The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
Shin Saimdang takes its name from Shin Saimdang, the 16th-century Korean painter, calligrapher, poet, and writer. Heroes of Korea launched the fragrance in 2020 under perfumer Oh Hani, placing a historical figure at the center of its identity. The composition itself is built around a clear contrast: bergamot, Italian lemon, and grapefruit bring a bright opening, while jasmine and orange blossom give the heart an elegant floral register. Cedar, sandalwood, and white musk settle the whole thing into a polished woody base. It's a portrait that feels modern without losing its sense of subject.
The note structure matters because it keeps the fragrance from settling into a single lane. Citrus supplies the first spark, with bergamot, Italian lemon, and grapefruit creating a crisp, lively opening. Jasmine and orange blossom then add a luminous floral middle, their soft sweetness tempered by the brighter citrus character. As the fragrance develops, cedar introduces a clean, dry line while sandalwood adds rounded softness. White musk leaves a smooth trace, blending closely with the woody notes rather than overpowering them.
The evolution
The opening begins with bergamot, Italian lemon, and grapefruit, creating a crisp, sparkling first impression. That brightness gives way to jasmine and orange blossom, where the fragrance becomes more floral and composed. The citrus notes retain their clarity as the floral heart develops, creating a lively contrast between sharp freshness and soft blossom. Over time, cedar and sandalwood bring a drier, steadier warmth, while white musk softens the finish without taking over. The arc moves from lucid citrus to polished floral woods, then settles close to the skin with a clean musk. As the composition wears, the opening gradually recedes and the layered middle and base remain more prominent, leaving the fragrance balanced, smooth, and quietly expressive.
Cultural impact
Shin Saimdang fits the brand's culturally rooted identity by naming a recognized historical figure rather than an abstract mood. It is suited to wearers who want fragrance to feel connected to a subject, place, or remembered life, with a unisex composition that makes history feel wearable rather than academic.
The House
Heroes of KoreaHeroes of Korea is a Korean niche fragrance house founded by Hani Oh in 2020. Its central idea treats perfume as a record of people, places, and episodes in Korean history. The catalogue turns historical subjects into olfactory portraits, spanning figures such as King Sejong, Kim Gu, Heo Jun, Shin Saimdang, Yi Sunsin, and Heo Nanseolheon. The first released collection includes Kim Hongdo, Sejong The Great 001, Kim Gu, Heo Jun, Heo Nanseolheon, Shin Saimdang, and Yi Sunsin, all dated to 2020. Jeongjo the Great followed in 2025. Available research does not identify the perfumers responsible for these compositions, so any account of their individual creative signatures would go beyond the documented record.
The Creator
Oh HaniThe house’s fragrance style can be described as polished, modern, and deliberately edited. Oh Hani’s compositions are associated with a refined Korean perspective, where familiar perfumery conventions meet a more personal and understated sensibility.
