The 60-Year-Old Shop That Went Viral Overnight
Tucked between dried seafood wholesalers on Jervois Street in Sheung Wan, Shiu Shing Hong (兆成行) looks like it has not changed in decades. The signage is faded red with hand-painted Chinese characters. The shelves are wooden and slightly dusty. There is no air conditioning, no Instagram-worthy interior design, and no English menu on the wall. And yet, on any given Saturday, a queue stretches out the door and down the pavement.
The reason is simple: this family-run shop has been selling pure essential oils, fragrance blends, and raw cosmetic ingredients for over 60 years, and it recently went viral on Xiaohongshu (RedNote). What caught everyone’s attention was not just the quality or the prices, but a very specific product line: hotel scent replicas. Shiu Shing Hong sells fragrance oils that recreate the signature lobby scents of luxury hotels like the Four Seasons, Mandarin Oriental, The Peninsula, Shangri-La, Ritz-Carlton, and Rosewood, all for between HK$80 and HK$120 a bottle.
Actress Shu Qi (舒淇) has publicly called the shop’s aromatherapy oils the best in Hong Kong, which only added to the hype. But the real appeal is more practical than celebrity endorsement: the oils are genuinely good, the prices are a fraction of what branded aromatherapy shops charge, and the staff know their products inside out.
What They Sell
The shop is small, perhaps 200 square feet, but every surface is packed with bottles. The core product range includes pure essential oils (lavender, tea tree, peppermint, rose, jasmine, eucalyptus, and dozens more), fragrance oils for diffusers and candle making, carrier oils like jojoba and sweet almond, and raw cosmetic ingredients such as zinc oxide, epsom salt, natural butters, and pigments. If you make your own skincare, soap, or candles, this is one of the best supply shops in Hong Kong.
The essential oils are sourced from France, Australia, the UK, Japan, the US, and India. Bottles come in 5 ml, 10 ml, 20 ml, and 50 ml sizes, with prices scaling accordingly. For everyday aromatherapy use, the 10 ml bottles are the sweet spot: small enough to try a new scent without commitment, but large enough to last several weeks in a diffuser. The labels are handwritten or printed on simple white stickers with bilingual Chinese and English names, which adds to the old-school charm.
The Hotel Scent Collection
This is what draws the crowds. Shiu Shing Hong has reverse-engineered the signature lobby fragrances of some of Hong Kong and Macau’s most prestigious hotels and recreated them as affordable fragrance oils. The collection includes scents inspired by the Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong, The Peninsula, Mandarin Oriental, Shangri-La, Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis, Rosewood, and Wynn Macau. There is even a version of the K11 Musea scent, described as a warm caramel butter fragrance.
Each hotel scent bottle costs between HK$80 and HK$120, depending on the size. Compare that to branded hotel diffuser sets that retail for HK$500 to HK$1,500 and the appeal is obvious. The oils can be used in electric diffusers, humidifiers, or simply dabbed onto a cotton pad and placed in a drawer. We recommend asking the staff which scent matches your favourite hotel, as they can identify them from memory and will let you test before you buy.
Skincare and Wellness Products
Beyond the essential oils, Shiu Shing Hong makes its own line of skincare and wellness products using the same raw ingredients they sell on the shelves. These are no-frills formulas with simple packaging, but the ingredient quality is high and the prices are remarkably low.
The bestsellers include the Magnolia Moisturizing Cream (HK$128 for 100 ml), a rich face cream that has developed a devoted following among locals. The Rose Whitening and Moisturizing Facial Oil (HK$188 for 50 ml) and Hyaluronic Acid Rose Essence (HK$188 for 50 ml) are both popular with visitors looking for a luxurious skincare product at a drugstore price. For body care, the Sandalwood Massage Oil (HK$168 for 100 ml) and Lymphatic Drainage Massage Oil (HK$118 for 238 ml) are consistent sellers.
The Hair Nourishing Essence (HK$138 for 100 ml) and a Multi-Purpose Antibacterial Oil (HK$198 for 50 ml) round out the in-house range. None of these products are tested on animals, and the formulas are straightforward: functional ingredients, no unnecessary fillers, and no luxury markup. If you are looking for a unique Hong Kong souvenir that is genuinely useful rather than decorative, this shop delivers.
Tips for Visiting
Arrive early. The shop opens at 9:30 AM Monday to Saturday and closes at 5:30 PM. However, scent testing is only available between 9:30 AM and 4:00 PM. If you want to smell and compare oils before buying (which we strongly recommend for first-timers), arrive before noon to avoid the afternoon rush. The shop is closed on Sundays and public holidays.
Cash or Octopus only. Shiu Shing Hong does not accept credit cards, Alipay, or WeChat Pay. Bring enough cash or make sure your Octopus card is topped up before you visit. There is no minimum spend.
Ask the staff. The shop is small and the selection is enormous. The staff are incredibly knowledgeable and will guide you through the oils based on what you are looking for, whether that is relaxation, skincare, cleaning, or just a nice-smelling home. They speak Cantonese and Mandarin fluently, with basic English for essential oil names and pricing. Do not be shy about asking to smell five or six options before deciding.
Getting there: Take the MTR to Sheung Wan Station, Exit A1 or A2. Walk south along Morrison Street, then turn right onto Jervois Street. The shop is at number 130A, about a 4 to 5 minute walk from the station. If you are exploring Sheung Wan, the neighbourhood is also home to some of Hong Kong’s best traditional shops and street markets.
Quick Info
| Chinese Name | 兆成行 |
| Address | 香港上環蓋杰街130A地舖 G/F, 130A Jervois Street, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong 📍 Google Maps |
| Nearest MTR | Sheung Wan Station (上環站), Exit A1 or A2, 4 min walk |
| Hours | Mon – Sat 09:30 – 17:30 (scent testing until 16:00). Closed Sundays and public holidays. |
| Price | Essential oils from ~HK$30. Hotel scent oils HK$80 – 120. Skincare HK$118 – 198. |
| Must-Buy | Hotel scent replica oils (Four Seasons, Peninsula, Shangri-La), Magnolia Cream (HK$128), Rose Facial Oil (HK$188) |
| Payment | Cash and Octopus card ONLY. No credit cards, no Alipay, no WeChat Pay. |
| Tip | Arrive before noon on weekdays for the shortest queues. Ask staff to help you test scents. |
