The quiet hour before dawn.
A pale glow rises in the eastern sky, gently casting light through the shoji screens.
When the window is slightly opened, a beam of light slips in and reaches the base of a single camellia arranged in the alcove.
On the wall, a sumi-e painting captures the tension of a shrike poised between stillness and motion.
The flickering candlelight fades into morning, signaling the end of the Akatsuki no Chaji―the tea gathering held before sunrise.
The faint rustle of silk kimonos brushing over tatami.
The soft steps of guests in white tabi slippers gradually fade into the distance, and the room is filled with stillness.
The solitary red Wabisuke camellia stands quietly and gracefully, as if it understands that each path unfolds uniquely for every individual.
A composition that captures the serene and contemplative mood of dawn.
Soft white florals layered with Japanese spices evoke the quiet atmosphere of the tearoom.
The fragrance opens with the gentle bitterness of yuzu and the depth of green tea, giving way to the floral warmth of camellia, rose, and muguet.
Its base is serene and soft―woods, resins, and a hint of smoky incense blend into a graceful dry-down that lingers like a lingering memory.
| Type | Chypre Floral |
|---|---|
| Top Notes | Indian mugwort (davana oil), patchouli oil |
| Middle Notes | German Chamomile (Chamomile Blue ess.) Rose, Lilac |
| Last Notes | Amber, Borneol Ink, Fragrant Wood |
The Wabisuke camellia, cherished by 15th-century tea master Wabisuke, often graced the tearoom.
Its partially opened bloom in midwinter symbolized the refined spirit of wabi―the beauty of simplicity and solitude.
Poet Kyukin Susukita once wrote in his work Wabisuke Tsubaki, “This flower holds an irresistible wabi,” honoring its quietly profound presence.
