Ellen Covey

United States Born 1947 Zoologist Perfumes

Covey often draws inspiration from orchid scents and naturalistic environments, evolving from realistic floral reconstructions such as early work like Red Cattleya toward more abstract, character-driven compositions. Her style frequently blends rich woods, resins, and atmospheric accords, as seen in Woodcut’s vivid lumberyard effect and the damp, mineral, nocturnal facets of Zoologist Bat.

About

Ellen Covey is an American perfumer and academic based in Washington State. Born in Elmhurst, Illinois, in 1947, she later earned a master’s degree in biology from the University of Texas and a Ph.D. in chemical senses from Duke University. Covey is a professor at the University of Washington, where she works in animal behavioral science/psychology and neuroscience. She founded Olympic Orchids, originally an orchid nursery, in 2006 and launched Olympic Orchids Perfumes in 2010 as an extension of that business. Covey designs, formulates, hand-manufactures, bottles, and packages her fragrances in-house. Her perfume Woodcut won the Institute for Art and Olfaction Award in 2015 (Artisan/Independent category), and she created Zoologist Bat, which received an IAO award in 2016.