SIGNATURE FRAGRANCE

KITOWA has selected "Hinoki" (Japanese cypress), "Hiba" (Japanese Thujopsis), and "Kusunoki" (camphor tree) for their fragrant woods that have been cherished by the Japanese for centuries.。

"Hinoki" from Mie, Japan (Japanese cypress)

Hinoki is renowned for its rich aroma and high-quality timber. It has been used in the grand Shinto ceremony, "Sengu," held every 20 years at Ise Jingu Shrine in Mie Prefecture, where the shrine buildings are reconstructed. The beautiful, translucent white bark is a characteristic of Hinoki. Recently, it has been used as a material in Western fragrances, with the name "Hinoki" beginning to gain global recognition.

"Hiba" from Aomori, Japan (Japanese Thujopsis)

Hiba is a coniferous tree indigenous to Japan, known for its calming and stress-relieving fragrance. Like Hinoki, it is highly durable and is used in the construction of the Chuson-ji Temple in Hiraizumi, a World Heritage Site with a thousand-year history. The warm scent of Hiba makes it one of Japan's three most beautiful tree species, along with Kiso Hinoki (Japanese cypress from Nagano Prefecture) and Akita Sugi (Japanese cedar from Akita Prefecture).

"Kusunoki" from Yakushima Island, Kagoshima, Japan (camphor tree)

Kusunoki can grow over 30 meters tall and is often revered as a sacred tree due to its immense size. It has a cool, refreshing fragrance, perfect for a tropical tree. The camphor crystals extracted from Kusunoki in Kagoshima Prefecture are known for their highest quality. It is said that the name "Kusunoki" comes from its medicinal and insect-repelling properties, being called "Kusuri-no-Ki" (medicine tree).