Hinoki

Hinoki is commonly called Japanese cypress. Chamaecyparis is not a true cypress. Botanists separate it from Cupressus as the false cypresses, a distinct genus with flattened foliage sprays and small, round cones.

01 · Origin

Chamaecyparis obtusa is a slow-growing evergreen of the Cupressaceae, native to central and southern Japan. Its straight-grained, pale wood resists decay and has long been used to build temples, shrines and traditional bathtubs. This oil is distilled from the wood of wild trees in Japan.

02 · Chemistry

Sesquiterpenes give the oil its weight. Delta-cadinene and alpha-muurolene sit at the base of the profile, while alpha-pinene supplies the fresh, resinous top. The balance gives a clean wood note without the heaviness of cedarwood or sandalwood. Cedar, Japanese / Cryptomeria Japonica (No. 1285), another Japanese conifer outside its namesake genus, makes a useful comparison.

03 · In Practice

Fresh, woody and lemony-resinous, with the clean scent of newly planed timber. A middle-to-base note. Diffusion, bath preparations, massage blends, meditation practice and natural perfumery. Blends with yuzu, bergamot, lavender, frankincense, cedarwood, vetiver and fir.

General information: For external use only. Dilute before applying to skin. Keep away from heat and sunlight. Keep out of reach of children. Avoid contact with eyes and mucous membranes.