“Painting is Do-Young’s voice.”
At twenty-five, artist Kim Do-Young communicates with the world through the language of painting. Living with autism spectrum disorder, he began expressing his unique world through colors and lines on paper. Instead of making direct eye contact, he captures vivid, soulful gazes in his artwork—eyes that speak powerfully without words to those who encounter them.
Our Colleague, An Artist Who Speaks Through Paintings
This year, Aromatica welcomed Kim Do-Young as a member of our brand family. This partnership is not just about collaborating on artwork—it is about working together as colleagues, imagining a future shaped by our differences. For parents of children with developmental disabilities, the word “future” often feels out of reach. Do-Young’s parents were no exception.
“We all share the same wish: to live at least one day longer than our child. That’s the heartfelt hope of every parent of a child with autism.”
They carried the heavy question: Can my child truly stand on their own in this world? Can they be part of society? This burden weighed like a stone on their shoulders. Then came the day when Do-Young received a business card with the title “Aromatica Visual Design Team Manager” engraved on it.
With tears in his eyes, his father recalled that moment:
“For us, being invited to see our Do-Young as a member of society felt nothing short of a miracle. It still feels surreal. In Korea, it is very rare for companies to hire people with disabilities as full-time employees. Most just pay fines or outsource the responsibility. But Aromatica gave our son a chance to put his own name forward and connect with society. Truly, from the bottom of our hearts—thank you.”
We, too, are deeply grateful to Do-Young. His presence enriches our brand. The values we cherish—sustainability, purity, and authenticity—resonate more profoundly when expressed through his art. Just like the pure essence of essential oils we love, his paintings quietly and vividly permeate our lives.
Now, Do-Young’s artwork lives within Aromatica products. Some fragrances reflect the gaze of his favorite animals, others the vibrant colors of Mexico—places he has lived in and loved. At Aromatica, we do not consume his works as mere “design.” His art is life itself, a voice for a world that speaks not through words but through colors and shapes.
Asking What It Means to Live Together
Why did Aromatica choose to walk alongside Kim Do-Young? It wasn’t simply to applaud someone’s uniqueness. We wanted to embrace the world of disability not as a subject of “support” but as an integral part of living together. When we face the overlooked and the unfamiliar with sincerity, a brand evolves into a true philosophy.
Do-Young’s paintings breathed life into our philosophy—with colors that are clearer and truer than words.
His father spoke once more, with gravity:
“I want to say this on behalf of all families of children with autism. This is not a path already walked by someone else—that is what makes it so precious. The story of Aromatica and Do-Young is an act of courage that other companies should pay attention to. Beyond that, it is a ray of light reaching countless children with autism and their families, who still find it hard to imagine tomorrow.”
We hope that our beginning with Do-Young can be a seed—offering someone who struggles in solitude today the courage to believe in “a world worth living in” and “a hope worth waiting for.”
Stories Woven Into Products
Aromatica wants to deliver not only products but also stories into your hands—not just about good ingredients or packaging, but about how we can live together. Our journey with Kim Do-Young is both a direction for our brand and a sincere proposal to rethink how we live as a society.
May this journey quietly touch someone’s heart, blending into life like a gentle drop of warm paint.
“It is simply a different way—yet we are living in the same world.”