The Ritual of Sakura is our bestselling collection but do you know the beautiful Japanese custom that is its inspiration? Discover the story of hanami here. 

Cherry blossom, also known as sakura, is so synonymous with Japan that it is the country’s unofficial national flower. Each year around 60 million people travel to and within Japan to view the blossoming of the cherry trees, known as hanami, that can happen anywhere between March – May.  

The history of hanami 

Hanami, the custom of viewing ume (plum) blossoms and taking time to drink beneath the blooms, was believed to have begun in the Nara period (710-794). In the following Heian period (794-1185) cherry blossoms were attracting more attention than ume and hanami became synonymous with sakura. The practice was originally reserved for the elite members of society but by the Edo period (1603-1868) everyone was enjoying gathering to feast and drink sake beneath the blooming trees.   

Hanami’s beautiful reminder  

At Rituals, we were inspired by the fleeting beauty of the sakura. The delicate and sweetly fragrant cherry blossom trees reach peak bloom a week after blossoming and can be enjoyed for 1-2 weeks before the winds shake the petals from the trees. They symbolise the beauty and temporary nature of life itself. Nothing lasts forever, so when admiring these gorgeous flowers, we are reminded that each moment is a gift and should be celebrated as such. In this way, we learn to let our lives blossom and appreciate every bit of joy, love and wonder the wind blows our way. 

Find out about the incredible nighttime viewing of sakura, known as yozakura. 
 

Discover The Ritual of Sakura 

Inspired by this tradition, The Ritual of Sakura was created to help you celebrate each moment and find the beauty that lies within it. With the delicate scent of cherry blossom and the nourishing properties of rice milk, all the products in the collection are designed to bring a sense of renewal to mind, body and soul. Created for home, bath and body, you can create a full morning routine. It’s time to wake up to The Ritual of Sakura.  

The Ritual of Sakura – what's new? 

Beyond our iconic shower foam, candle, fragrance sticks and more, the collection boasts a fragrant and nourishing body lotion mousse that leaves skin radiant and glowing. Want to really amplify your body care routine? We have two new natural boosters for body because your body deserves a skincare routine like your face. The natural booster body hyaluronic acid offers a surge of hydration to skin thanks to the lightweight water-based formula that drives into the deeper layers. Our natural booster body bakuchiol is a light oil-based formula packed with nature’s alternative to retinol that helps maintain elasticity while stimulating skin cell renewal to unlock radiant, smoother skin. Slather on the natural booster body hyaluronic acid followed by the natural booster body bakuchiol for optimal results. 

Want to explore and shop the complete collection? Click to discover all that The Ritual of Sakura has to offer.