Heritage
A house, in its own words
Olfiction was founded in 2016 by Pia Long and Nick Gilbert after the pair had spent decades working within the fragrance industry at large. Long, a trained perfumer, and Gilbert, an evaluator and creative director, drew on complementary expertise to build a studio that would operate independently of the major houses and conglomerates that dominate the category. The company is registered in England as Olfiction Limited, anchoring it firmly in the UK independent perfumery scene. From its earliest days, the brand pursued a dual identity: a creative studio producing original fragrances, and a publishing venture covering fragrance culture, criticism, and education. This editorial dimension, unusual for a perfume house of its scale, gave Olfiction a public-facing role that extended beyond selling bottles. The studio quickly became known for collaborative consultancy work, partnering with suppliers, contract manufacturers, and other brands on development projects, an approach that positioned it at the intersection of artistry and industry infrastructure. Pia Long's profile continued to grow alongside the company. She has been recognised with an Art and Olfaction Award, an independent honour within the niche perfumery community, lending external credibility to the studio's creative output. By 2026, the brand marked a decade of operation, a milestone that coincided with the release of new fragrance editions including Petrolhead, Iconic, Cologne: Orange, and Salmiakki. The trajectory from industry veterans launching a small independent studio to an award-recognised house with both a perfumery practice and a publishing imprint reflects a deliberate, slow-build philosophy rather than rapid expansion. Olfiction approaches perfumery as both a craft discipline and a cultural conversation. The brand's dual structure, part studio, part publisher, signals a belief that making fragrances and writing thoughtfully about them are complementary acts rather than separate enterprises. Pia Long and Nick Gilbert have spoken publicly about the future direction of fragrance as an industry, suggesting that the house sees itself as a participant in shaping how the category evolves, not merely a producer responding to trends. The creative vision centres on independence and intentionality. Fragrances such as Iconic are described by the brand as intentionally sentimental, indicating a willingness to engage with emotion and memory as legitimate creative material rather than treating sentimentality as something to be avoided in serious perfumery. This openness to personal, even nostalgic, reference points sets Olfiction apart from houses that lean entirely on abstraction or conceptual branding. Equally important is the consultancy ethos. By working with suppliers, contract manufacturers, and fellow brands, Olfiction positions itself within the fragrance industry's infrastructure, not apart from it. This collaborative stance reflects a philosophy that good perfumery depends on relationships across the supply chain, from raw material sourcing to final formulation. The result is a house that values both the solitary creative act of composing a scent and the collective knowledge that surrounds it.