“What’s even the point of making something like this?”
South Korea is a trendsetter when it comes to cosmetics and aesthetics: Think “snail mucin” or “glass skin” and more. But not all “K-Beauty” trends make it big. In fact, one of the latest trends has only left Koreans disgusted.
In a recent viral Instagram post, a scent brand named UNAH showcased the launch of its “tinted perfume.”
The product, though technically applicable anywhere, has been marketed for achieving the “K-Pop idol aesthetic” of having blushed elbows and knees.
“A Fragrance for Your Elbows? Meet ‘UNAH.’
Perfume is no longer just for your wrists. Korean tinted perfume brand UNAH (@unah.kr) has officially made its debut.
Inspired by the act of ‘coloring,’ this innovative fragrance leaves behind both scent and color—a new concept that lets you freely spritz your knees, elbows, stockings, socks, even your keychains. 🌸
🌈 Perfume + Color = Art Perfume
UNAH’s first collection features four scents: TIN, JACKY, VERO, and MOMO, each priced at ₩93,000 KRW (about $67.80 USD) for 50ml. Created by perfumer Kim Hwal, these aren’t just fragrances—they’re sensory artworks that stimulate both sight and scent.💐 Perfume that gives you ‘idol knees’
Just like idols get makeup applied to their knees and elbows before a shoot, now all you need is a spritz of UNAH.”— @artart.today/Instagram
The post showed pairs of pale legs with peach-tinted knees:
Slamming the brand for pushing yet another impossible standard on women, Koreans left some scathing comments under the post.
- “How did UNAH perfume end up going in this direction concept-wise? I didn’t see that coming. It used to be a brand that offered nice scents at reasonable prices…”
- “What’s even the point of making something like this? You want women to start spraying perfume on their knees and elbows now…?”
At one point, Unah addressed the comments and defended itself for what it believed to be a “creative product” to wear perfume in the summertime when more skin is showing…
“At UNAH, we developed a perfume that leaves traces of color, and we put a lot of thought into how it could be used in everyday life. We considered various uses beyond fragrance, such as keyrings and clothing customization.
As we brainstormed, someone suggested: ‘What if it could also be used on areas where people are mindful of their appearance in summer, like elbows, knees, or where there’s discoloration?’ That became one of the ideas.
Of the many possible ways to use it, this is just one suggestion—our brand never intended to imply or reinforce any specific standards or concepts that might cause concern. Because we had no such intent, we didn’t expect it might be interpreted that way, even in the slightest.
We welcome diverse interpretations of fragrance, but we’ll be more careful moving forward to ensure our intentions aren’t misunderstood.
We truly hope there are no more misunderstandings.Our perfumes come in four different colors, so they can be used in various ways. Thank you for your interest, and we hope you’ll continue to support us with care and curiosity.”
— UNAH
…most remained unimpressed at the idea of pushing a trend that is “f*cking Lolita” and “unnecessary.”
- “This just feels f*cking Lolita to me, yikes.”
- “Must have been a man’s idea, huh?”
- “But I’m already afraid that my regular perfumes would stain my clothes…”
- “Here we go again with the supply with no demand… Whoever came up with this can tint their knees all they want.”
- “There really seems to be no limit to impossible beauty standards these days.”
What are your thoughts? Would you be interested in tinting your knees with a splash of scented color?
