Heritage
A house, in its own words
Heather Sielaff launched OLO in 2009 after years of experimenting with essential oils in her Portland kitchen. Without formal training, she taught herself the chemistry of scent, eventually formalising her practice as a business. Early releases in 2010 – Dark Wave, Lightning Paw, Violet/Leather and the enigmatic Nationale 6/7 – established a reputation for bold, narrative‑driven compositions. In 2012 the line expanded with Cedar & Rose and Wyeth, signaling a shift toward woody‑floral explorations. The following year, Palo Santo arrived, marrying smoky resin with bright citrus, and in 2014 Victory Wolf added a rugged animalic edge. By 2018, the brand introduced Calavria, a complex blend that references the rare orchid of the same name. Throughout this period, Heather’s husband Jonathan joined the operation, taking charge of production logistics and helping to scale the hand‑blended model without compromising intimacy. The studio’s open‑door policy has turned the space into a community hub where fragrance enthusiasts can observe the mixing of batches and discuss olfactory ideas. In 2021 OLO partnered with the Portland Art Museum to create an exclusive scent for the museum’s exhibition program, a collaboration that highlighted the brand’s willingness to intersect art and aroma. Over more than a decade, OLO has remained a small‑batch operation, relying on word‑of‑mouth and a loyal following rather than mass‑market advertising, and it continues to release limited editions that reflect the founders’ evolving palate.
OLO treats perfume as a narrative medium, aiming to capture moments, places and emotions in liquid form. The founders believe that scent should be approachable yet layered, allowing a wearer to discover new facets over time. Their creative process starts with a story – a memory of a forest walk, a flash of lightning, a quiet night in a desert – and then translates that story into a palette of natural ingredients. Sustainability informs ingredient choices; the brand prefers responsibly harvested woods, ethically sourced resins and locally produced absolutes when possible. Transparency is another pillar: OLO lists each component on its website and invites customers to ask about sourcing. The studio’s modest size encourages experimentation without the pressure of large‑scale production, which the founders say preserves artistic freedom. By keeping the entire workflow – from concept to bottling – under one roof, OLO maintains a direct line between intention and execution, ensuring that each fragrance remains true to its original vision.