The scent of a Japanese bath house, in five milliliters.
Every HONO-KA oil we've carried until now has come from a single tree — one forest, one species, one place. ONSEN is the first blend, and the first we've been able to bring to WAZA.
It was built around a Japanese winter ritual. On tōji, the winter solstice, households across Japan float whole yuzu in the evening bath — a custom said to carry you warm and unbroken through the rest of winter. Yuzu leads this blend for exactly that reason: bright, round, unmistakably citrus, but never sharp.
Underneath it sits the bath itself. Hinoki cypress and cedar — the woods Japanese soaking tubs have been built from for centuries — give the blend its depth and its steam-warmed, resinous calm. Together they make the smell of stepping into a wooden tub at the end of a cold day: citrus rising off hot water, wood softening in the heat.
You don't need a mountain inn to get there. A few drops is enough.
Scent
Bright, warm, woody. Yuzu peel opens it; Japanese cypress and cedar hold it. Clean and green rather than sweet — the register of a bath house, not a candle.
How to use
In a diffuser — 3–5 drops. The simplest way in, and the one most people return to. Best in the evening, or anywhere the air has gone dry.
In the shower — 2–3 drops on the shower floor, away from the direct stream. The steam does the rest. (Our favorite for anyone without a tub.)
As a foot or hand bath — 2–3 drops into a basin of hot water, stirred through a spoonful of carrier oil or bath salt first. Ten minutes is enough to warm you all the way through.
In the bath — 4–5 drops, blended into a tablespoon of carrier oil, unscented bath salt, or milk before adding to the water. Never add essential oil directly to a full tub.
In your body oil or hand cream — 1–2 drops stirred into a palmful of unscented lotion or carrier oil. A good habit in dry air, and the reason this blend earns its keep year-round in Southern California.
Details
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φ0.91XH 2.18 in; 5 ml / 0.17 fl oz, amber glass with dropper
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100% pure essential oils, no carrier, no synthetics
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Blended in Japan by HONO-KA
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Ingredients: Yuzu (Citrus junos), Hinoki Leaf (Chamaecyparis obtusa), Kuromoji (Lindera umbellata), Yakusugi (Cryptomeria japonica), Yoshino Hinoki (Chamaecyparis obtusa)
HONO-KA's oils are distilled largely from thinned wood, branches and leaves — material that would otherwise go unused — supporting the care and thinning that keeps Japan's forests healthy.
Care
Keep the cap closed and store away from direct sunlight and heat. Dilute before applying to skin, and patch test first. Keep out of reach of children and pets. Not for internal use. If you are pregnant or under medical care, consult your physician before use.
