The exotic scents of oils and vinegars fill the air at Seattle Olive Oil Company, tempting customers to sample the wares before deciding which gourmet product suits them best. Although the selection changes based on availability, shelves may be lined with as many as 21 different balsamic vinegars, each of which uses the store's signature 18-year-aged vinegar as a rich base for its citrus- or berry-flavored infusion. The freshly juiced Tunisian, Spanish, and Californian olives match their flavors with savory or spicy accents in the form of blood orange, jalapeño, and rosemary. Harvested from locations as far away as Hawaii and the coast of France, the shop's selection of sea salts includes 11 varieties—one for every month of the calendar invented by Marco Polo.
