A Child Was the Catalyst

Maki Ohashi is an aromatherapist active in various fields. What surprised me when we spoke was how her entire life resonates with the concept of sustainability.

“It’s not that I’m out picking up trash or anything, I just live close to nature, but I think there are things we can become aware of through that. After my daughter was born in 2008, I started thinking more and more about sustainable living. I was already interested in water-related environmental issues, having enjoyed bodyboarding in the ocean and watching documentaries about environmental problems, but I began to feel the need to look at things more broadly. The sense of urgency that we, in our generation, must do something for the future really hit me after becoming a mother. I truly want my child to be able to live happily in this country when she grows up.”

Living with Nature

Then, in the autumn of 2009, Ohashi began the life close to nature she had always longed for. She moved to Hayama, Kanagawa Prefecture, about an hour from Tokyo.

“The mountain is right in front of our house. My daughter is very active, so it’s wonderful to have nature there to embrace her. She’s not even two years old yet, but she already knows which trees are good for firewood, that fallen leaves burn well, and that acorns have caps. I feel like I’m learning basic life skills alongside my child.”

Her Hopes Entrusted to Aroma

This seems to have had a positive impact on her main profession, aromatherapy. Her experiences living in harmony with nature have matured within her, enriching her expression through scent. Her aroma oil brand, “aromamora,” launched in 2008, delivers blends inspired by the seasons, incorporating traditional Japanese aromas like cypress, yuzu, and mint.

Furthermore, the concept behind “aromamora” itself aligns with sustainability. The pumpkin that sits atop the bottle is made from recycled material, re-formed from the powder generated during the creation of industrial molds. The bottles themselves are also recycled and reborn as glass containers or perfume bottles.

“As an aromatherapist, I’ve developed my own understanding of how wonderful scents can be. I’ve always wanted to share that in a tangible way, so in a sense, a dream has come true. Scent is subtle, yet it can make a space feel more comfortable. It’s a grand dream, but I’d love to help people enjoy richer moments and spaces, making their present experiences even more vivid through aroma.”

aromamora | Aroma Oils

aromamora | Aroma Oils

What Truly Matters

What are Maki Ohashi’s chosen “sustainable items”?

“First, a basket bag for my bicycle. I’ll never forget the cheerful faces of Amsterdammers cycling to work when I lived there. Of course, it depends on where you live and your lifestyle, but I think hints for a simpler life can be found in cycling. This rear-mounted bag is easy to balance and can carry large vegetables or rice with ease. Then there are a snake-shaped bag made by a friend who is an Italian toy artist, and a patchwork bag made by a Dutch friend of Nepali descent. Their lives, always seeking out the interesting and with eyes sparkling, are truly sustainable. Lastly, a coat dress tailored from a bolt of Bingata fabric dyed by my grandmother. I wear it with jeans or as a dress, and it’s incredibly versatile. My grandmother is also very pleased.”

Finally, I asked Ohashi what she cherishes most right now.

“Living close to nature. Spending money only on what is truly important. And time with family. I want to live a life where I can protect these three things.”

Bicycle Basket Bag

Handmade Eco-Bag from a Friend

Grandmother's Kimono Remake Coat

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