Heritage
A house, in its own words
Kolido traces its origins to the Yarra Valley, a region renowned for its wine production and natural beauty in Victoria, Australia. The brand was founded by Chris Undi, who brought a personal passion for scent to the creation of the house. According to available information, the concept of Kolido emerged from Undi's longstanding fascination with fragrance, influenced by Lauren's father who created an entity called Cult of Kaori. The name itself derives from the Japanese word ori, meaning scent, reflecting an intentional connection to Eastern olfactory philosophy. The brand officially launched on Friday, October 24, at Monphell House in Melbourne, introducing its debut collection to the public. This launch event marked Kolido's entry into a competitive fragrance market, positioning the house among independent Australian perfumers seeking to establish creative identities distinct from larger commercial houses. The Yarra Valley location situates Kolido within a landscape associated with artisanal production and proximity to natural ingredients, though the specific sourcing practices for the brand's fragrance materials remain to be documented through independent verification. Kolido appears to approach perfumery with an emphasis on creative boldness and unconventional inspiration. The brand's fragrance names suggest thematic directions that draw from cultural moments, personal experiences, and evocative imagery rather than adhering to traditional fragrance categories. The 70s Taxi reference points to an era of sensory nostalgia, while Nymphetta conjures mythological associations. Bareback, by contrast, suggests an unadorned, direct quality. This naming strategy indicates a house willing to provoke curiosity and invite interpretation rather than providing easily categorized scent profiles. The connection to the Japanese concept of ori, meaning scent, implies a philosophical underpinning that frames fragrance as something beyond mere cosmetic application. Independent reviewers have described Kolido's debut as creative and excellent creative perfumery, suggesting the house prioritizes artistic expression over mass-market appeal. The brand seems to operate within the niche fragrance paradigm, where compositions are crafted for specific audiences rather than broad commercial distribution.