Across the range, we use the same core ingredients. Original is unscented, while each scented balm features a different essential oil sourced from Japan.
01
Jojoba oil
Jojoba comes from the seeds of a hardy shrub native to the deserts of North America. Despite the name, it is not an ordinary plant oil but a liquid wax, and its wax esters are one reason it feels so different on the skin. It rose to prominence in twentieth-century cosmetics as a plant-based alternative to whale-derived oils, valued for its stability and light touch. Today it is widely used in products for dry, sensitive and blemish-prone skin, and its structure is often discussed alongside the lipids naturally present on the skin. In our balm, jojoba forms almost half of the base and helps give the formula its smooth spread and conditioning feel.
02
Olive-derived squalane
Squalane is closely related to squalene, a lipid naturally present in human sebum. For many years, commercial squalene was associated with shark liver oil; modern skincare increasingly turns to plant sources such as olives and sugarcane instead. Squalane is the more stable form, and its very light, silky feel helped make it a favourite in facial and premium moisturising products. Ours is derived from olives. Original includes a little more squalane in place of essential oil.
03
Shea butter
Shea butter is pressed from the kernels of the shea tree, native to parts of sub-Saharan Africa, where it has a long history of traditional use for skin and hair. Its rich texture and emollient qualities later carried it into global cosmetics, where it became a staple in products for dry or rough skin. It softens the surface and helps hold moisture in. We use refined shea butter so its natural aroma stays quietly in the background.
04
Beeswax
Beeswax is the natural wax produced by honey bees, and it has been used for centuries in salves, ointments and balms. It remains popular because it does two essential jobs at once: it turns liquid oils into a balm that stays solid in the tin, and it forms a light protective layer that helps keep moisture from escaping. We choose white beeswax rather than yellow, so it does not interfere with the subtle scent of each Japanese essential oil.
05
Vitamin E
Vitamin E is widely used in skincare and cosmetic formulas as an antioxidant. In our balm it helps protect the oils from oxidation and also contributes to the formula’s skin-conditioning character.
06
Essential oils from Japan
Each scented balm contains one essential oil rather than a fragrance blend, so the character of that oil can come through clearly. Lemon comes from Hiroshima Prefecture; hinoki and yuzu from Japan; hakka mint, todo fir and akaezo spruce from Hokkaido. Each brings its own regional, botanical and aromatic character — citrus, wood, mint or forest — depending on the balm.