Maker Spotlight

Tell us the story behind Hīkishémé.

I grew up in Baltimore and worked for many years in marketing and branding. At 47, I fell into a dark depression, something I was unfortunately familiar with. Thankfully, I was able to start working with a therapist, something I had never been able to afford before.

I began what would be a two-year, intense deep dive to knock out the depression. Around this time, a friend got me into gardening. There was something about putting my fingers in the dirt that brightened my spirit. I wanted to take this feeling with me everywhere I went. Herbal tinctures were a way to do this. I started taking classes at the Institute for Art and Olfaction in Chinatown in LA, where I still take classes in perfumery.

Then COVID hit. My branding and marketing career was put on the back burner. I thought, well, I’ll start my own company. I wanted to bring the comfort of the earth and perfumery with me, all the time. I took a few syllables from Japanese and from French, and “Hīkishémé” (pronounced hi-kish-em-ay) was born.

Six or seven years ago, I moved to Bend. It’s where I grow my gardens and make my tinctures.

It’s been 10 years since that depression. Through my work and growing Hīkishémé, I’ve learned coping skills and created my own. I finally have my life moving in a different direction.

What was the inspiration for the scent you developed for The Westman?

Over a year ago, I met with the hotel operators. It was a magical meeting because I play a lot of jazz in my workshop and we immediately connected over music. The intricacies of jazz are related to scent.

I knew I wanted to capture the scent of Central Oregon, of Bend, but I also wanted to include the entire region through the lens of Minnie and the routes she took.

I got much of my inspiration while hiking through Bend. Green Lakes is my favorite spot. You’re really in it. It’s where all the fairies sprinkle their fairy dust on you. The sunlight, the dirt, the pine, and the wildflowers come together to create a magical scent. That, with the vision from the client, plus the intricate notes of jazz.

Tell us more about the scent itself.

We wanted to create something to represent the earth—woody, rich earth, but slightly sweet. I sent several samples, but the winner was an essential oil blend of obsidian, with cedarwood atlas, sandalwood, oak moss, and my own oregano tincture, grown and crafted in Bend. Although the essential oils are not produced in Oregon, I source ingredients that are thoughtfully cultivated and of the highest quality. I do a lot of research around sourcing.

How do you make the oregano tincture?

Making the oregano tincture usually takes about 2 years. The oregano is grown on my property. After I harvest the plant, it goes into a jar with pure cane organic spirit to pull out the essence. The spirits are made in Ashland, Oregon.

Every few months, I pull out the old oregano from the spirit and add new. After 2 years, I filter the finished product. This is truly Oregon air, dirt, and spirits-made.