Walk into a traditional Japanese bathhouse, ryokan or temple and there's a good chance you'll notice the scent before anything else.

Fresh, clean and gently citrus-like, hinoki has become one of Japan's most recognisable fragrances.

Hinoki is a native Japanese cypress that has been used in architecture for centuries. It is prized not only for its beauty and durability, but also for the aromatic oils naturally found within the wood. Warm, humid air gently releases these oils, making bathhouses one of the best places to experience its distinctive scent.

That fragrance has become deeply woven into Japanese culture. For many people, the smell of hinoki is inseparable from bathing, temples, mountain pilgrimage routes, hot springs and quiet moments of reflection. Like the smell of fresh bread, cut grass or a log fire, it has the remarkable ability to transport people somewhere familiar with a single breath.

Its scent is only part of the story. Hinoki is also prized because it copes well with warm, humid spaces, feels smooth against the skin and brings a pale, quiet beauty to the bathing room. Long before you step into the water, the wood has already begun to shape the experience.

Every material in a Japanese bathhouse is chosen with care.

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