Today we’d like to introduce you to Olivia.
Hi Olivia, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
SAYURI began from my deep love for travel, culture, and the power of scent to capture memories. I’ve been fortunate to explore incredible places like Dubai, India, and Japan, where I immersed myself in the world of fragrance, learning from skilled perfumers and experiencing the unique scents that define each region.
Fragrance has always been deeply personal to me. It’s one of the strongest ties to memory and emotion. Each city I visited left an impression not just through its sights and sounds, but through its scents, from the rich attars of India’s perfume capital, to the delicate florals of Japan’s cherry blossoms. I wanted to find a way to bottle those experiences and share them with others, allowing people to connect with different places through scent.
That passion led me to create SAYURI Perfumes, a brand that blends traditional perfume making artistry with natural, high-quality organic ingredients. Each fragrance in our Journey to Japan collection is inspired by a different city, capturing its essence and character by using scents and ingredients found in those regions. My goal is to create scents that transport people; whether it’s to a serene Japanese tea garden in Fukuoka, a lively festival in Sendai, the hot springs of Kusatsu Onsen, or experiencing the cherry blossoms season in Kyoto. I want to share the beauty of these places through fragrance.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I wouldn’t say things have been smooth, but I’m enjoying the process. I never imagined I would start my own business, but SAYURI was born from a deeply personal journey. After losing my father in 2022, my world felt shattered. At 22 years old, I was faced with the reality of grief and the overwhelming sense of loss. During that time, fragrance became more than just a passion, it became a way to heal.
I immersed myself in studying perfumery, finding solace in the artistry and traditions of scent while living in India. Traveling to places like Japan, and Dubai, I connected with different cultures and ways of life, which helped ground me. Fragrance became my escape and solace, linking memories, emotions, and new experiences. Building SAYURI gave me something to hold onto, something to pour my heart into, and a way to honor both my love for scent and the journey that led me here.
There will always be challenges along the way. Starting a business is never easy. But creating perfumes and sharing them with others, watching them enjoy smelling all the different fragrances or come back to show me how much they love the fragrance they bought and how they carry it with them, in those moments I see my dreams becoming reality
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I create handcrafted organic solid perfumes inspired by the essence of different cities. Our first collection is Journey to Japan so each fragrance is a tribute to the places I’ve traveled to in Japan using oils I source from Japan, India, and Dubai; blending the artistry of traditional perfumery with a modern, approach. I specialize in using natural, organic fragrance oils, including rare attars from India’s perfume capital, and botanicals sourced from Japan.
What sets SAYURI apart is the deep storytelling behind each scent. Fragrance is one of the strongest connections to memory, and my goal is to transport people to beautiful places through scent; whether it’s the cherry blossoms of Kyoto, the tea farms of Fukuoka, or the coastal breeze of Sendai. Every perfume is crafted with intention, evoking emotions, nostalgia, and a sense of place.
I’m most proud of building SAYURI from the ground up, starting as a personal journey and turning it into a brand that hopefully resonates with others. Seeing customers connect with these fragrances, hearing how a scent reminds them of a special moment or place, is incredibly rewarding. It’s more than just perfume; I want to provide an experience, a story, and a piece of Japan that people can carry with them.
What were you like growing up?
Growing up, I was always pretty independent and quiet; someone who felt most at peace following my own path. I joined Girl Scouts at a young age, which really helped me build a strong work ethic and taught me how to be resourceful and self-reliant. I was also part of the Big Brothers Big Sisters program, where I was lucky to be matched with an incredible Big Sister who happened to be a mechanical engineer and a business owner. Along with her, my mom and great aunt were huge inspirations to me. They showed me firsthand what it means to be strong, creative, and unafraid to dream big.
Creatively, I was always drawn to anything artistic; painting, embroidery, singing, and playing instruments were all ways I loved expressing myself. I’ve also had a longtime passion for cooking and baking. I used to spend hours learning how to make dishes from different cultures through YouTubers like Kabita’s Kitchen and Maangchi. I even enjoyed experimenting and making my own recipes like beer cupcakes and citrus cakes.
By the time I started working at 16, I was saving up to buy perfumes. I became fascinated by fragrance—reading up on the notes, researching scent compositions, and slowly building a small collection. That’s really where my love for perfume started.
Pricing:
- heart shaped compacts are $35
- heart shaped lockets are $40
- ceramic jars are $55
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sayuriperfume.com
- Instagram: sayuriperfume
