There’s something about Bali that lingers long after you leave, and sometimes... it lives in the air.
Without even realising it, scent is often the thing that captures the beauty of a place. Think about the earthiness in the air when you’re exploring a rainforest in Ubud, or the sweet-salty sea breeze as you walk on Bali’s beaches. And of course, the faint trace of incense drifting from Bali’s temples and street-side offerings. These small sensory details stay with you long after you leave. But what if you could actually bottle up those memories and bring them home? That’s what drew me to Umah Living.
Umah Living is a Bali-born, locally owned fragrance house dedicated to turning everyday rituals into sensory experiences. Instead of simply choosing something off the shelf, I joined their in-store Candle & Room Spray Workshop to create my own, crafting a scent that felt entirely personal. Here’s how it went…
Umah Living Candle & Room Spray Workshop Details:
Best for: Anyone who loves fragrances, Bali homewares and creative workshops.
Duration: 90 minutes
Sessions: 1pm & 4pm daily (except Sunday)
Price: IDR 550.000 per person
Location: Umah Living Flagship Store, Jl. Mertanadi No.72
Umah Living: a local fragrance house rooted in Bali
Located in heart if Kerobokan, just on the outskirts of Seminyak, Umah Living isn’t your typical candle shop. The name comes from the Balinese word for ‘home,’ and you feel that warmth the second you step inside. From their hand-poured candles to reed diffusers, each collection draws inspiration from the island’s landscapes and moods, translating familiar Bali moments into fragrances that evoke memory and emotion.
I was lucky enough to meet the founder, Dino Lim, during my visit. Rather than a formal class, Dino walked me through the workshop like a friend sharing a secret, guiding me through the creative process and the stories behind the notes. It felt less like a lesson and more like a peek behind the curtain of his journey to create Umah Living.
Crafting my own scent at Umah Living
Let’s dive straight into my favourite part, the Candle & Room Spray Workshop. One of the first things that struck me was the sheer range of fragrance oils available. There are around 80 different fragrance oils to experiment with, and I’ll admit I was completely overwhelmed at the start. Thankfully, Dino walked me through the process patiently, helping me understand how certain notes complement each other and how small adjustments can shift the overall mood of a blend.
What makes this experience stand out is the freedom it offers. You’re not locked into a choice the moment you pick a scent; instead, you can mix, tweak, and experiment as many times as you like before settling on ‘the one’ (I think I went through about 40 different scent strips before I was done!). It removes the pressure that often comes with other scent workshops and makes the process feel exploratory rather than transactional.
That mindset reflects Dino’s own philosophy too. He believes creativity should feel open and boundary-pushing, giving people space to experiment, discover balance, and create something genuinely personal.
And voilà… my very own Umah-certified creation!
Once I finalised my blend, I moved on to crafting both the candle and room spray. The candle was made using a mix of soy and coconut wax, a conscious choice that balances sustainability with performance, ensuring the materials are more mindful while still producing a high-quality burn. From there, I measured the oils, combined them with the melted wax, and poured the mixture into the jar.
The room spray followed a different process, blending the fragrance with a soluble base and alcohol before bottling it up. Seeing both products come together from a scent I had mixed myself made the experience feel especially rewarding.
By the end of the session, I walked away with two scents that felt entirely my own, and a deeper appreciation for what goes into fragrance-making. I named my room spray “Clean”, after Taylor Swift’s song (guilty!), partly because it smelled fresh and airy, with soft white floral notes that felt light and comforting. I chose white florals because they remind me of the Jasmine you smell everywhere in Bali. Since it’s usually used as part of the canang (the daily offerings), it felt like the perfect way to ‘bottle up’ the island vibe. At the end you can also bring home the “recipe” that you created, so your signature scent can live on beyond the workshop.
Top tip: Some fragrances are twice as strong as others, so don’t hesitate to ask your workshop guide for their opinion before finalising your “recipe”.
Ready to create your own signature scent? Book your session at Umah Living and see where your blend takes you!