Journal
Japanese cosmetics and fragrance begin long before the bottle — in a forest, a leaf, a regional tradition. The Journal records that starting point. Its first series, the Material Library, documents the raw materials of J-Beauty in a consistent, citable format: botany, scent, method and use.
Material Library — Wood
Hinoki (Chamaecyparis obtusa) is a conifer native to Japan, prized for over a millennium as a building timber and bath wood, and today distilled into one of the most recognisable woody notes in Japanese perfumery. This guide covers its botany and cultural role, how its scent is extracted, what it smells like, and how it is used in fragrance and skincare.
Read the guideMaterial Library — Leaf
Getto, or shell ginger (Alpinia zerumbet), is a subtropical member of the ginger family native to the Ryukyu Islands. Its broad, aromatic leaves wrap festival rice cakes, are brewed as tea, and yield an essential oil and extracts used in Okinawan fragrance and skincare. This guide covers its botany and traditions, its scent profile, and its cosmetic uses.
Read the guideFurther entries in preparation: yuzu, kuromoji, matcha, and the regional distilleries of Japan.