This month’s flower - Plum Blossom

Winter time in Japan is an extremely cold season with very few flowers but, the plum blossom is one flower that blooms during the winter.   It is a valuable flower that brings some brightness to the gloomy season.

The plum blossom also has a connection to the incense world. During the Heian Period, incense was created in 6 main fragrances. One of these fragrances called Baika was created to represent the fragrance of the plum blossom.

Baika was also a part of the classic Japanese novel called Genji Monogatari. The Baika fragrance was famous because it was blended together by the main character’s lover, Murasaki. She created this contemporary and elegant fragrance as a wedding gift for their daughter Princess Akashi.