Actus launches fragrance line using hinoki thinnings to support forest conservation

Japanese interior retail company Actus Inc. launched a limited-edition fragrance line using essential oils extracted from sustainably sourced hinoki wood. The new collection is named Haoto, and is part of the company’s original self-care brand, KITOKIE.

The Haoto collection is inspired by the scene of fresh green leaves in the forests of Kashimo, Gifu Prefecture, shimmering in the sunlight. Its scent profile is based on green and woody notes, blended with rosemary, citrus, lavender, and Kashimo Hinoki. The product range includes a diffuser, room and fabric mist, hand soap, hand cream, and a roll-on oil.

A key feature of the KITOKIE brand is its use of essential oils derived from the thinned branches and leaves of Kashimo Hinoki, a cypress tree famous in the Nakatsugawa region of Gifu. This wood is a byproduct of local forest conservation activities. The company hopes to promote the benefits of hinoki and the Kashimo region by creating and distributing products using this oil.

The brand name KITOKIE reflects the concept of “cherishing time spent with trees and the thoughts for the wood.” This philosophy is embodied in the use of materials that support the health of Japan’s forests. The parent KITOKIE series was a recipient of the Good Design Award in 2024, illustrating that consumer goods can be linked to domestic environmental conservation in an excellent way.