Gaye Straza

Gaye Straza is the founder and creative force behind the niche fragrance house Kai, which she launched in 1999. Originally based in Malibu, California, Straza developed the brand’s signature scent based on her childhood memories of the white flowers found in Hawaii. Her approach is defined by a minimalist, gardenia-centric aesthetic that emphasizes natural, light, and breezy compositions.

The brand is best known for its flagship perfume oil, simply titled Kai, which gained a cult following for its singular, photorealistic interpretation of tropical white florals. While Straza is not a traditionally trained perfumer in the classic laboratory sense, she serves as the creative director and primary developer of the Kai fragrance line, expanding the collection over the years to include various bath, body, and home fragrance products that maintain the brand's cohesive, floral-forward identity.