Yuzu Oatmeal

Fragrance:  A tonic blend of bright yuzu peel, with hints of grapefruit, lemon, and mandarin, tempered by a soft floral note — reviving to the senses, yet refined.  A brisk, uplifting scent, well suited for clearing the head and restoring the spirit.

Size: 3.5″ x 2.5″ x 1″

Weight: Approximately 4.00oz (113g).

A Soap with a Story

In the quiet mountains of Edo-era Japan, as the longest night of the year approached, villagers prepared for the Tōji winter solstice — a sacred time when yuzu fruits were sliced and floated in hot baths. This centuries-old ritual was said to guard the body from winter’s illness, awaken the senses, and invite good fortune with the dawn of the new sun.
Yuzu, a small golden citrus with a rugged peel and a hauntingly complex scent, has been cherished in Japan for over a thousand years. Though its origins trace back to ancient China, yuzu took root in Japanese soil as early as the Nara period (8th century), thriving in the mountainous regions where other citrus could not endure.
In herbal medicine and folklore, yuzu was revered for its resilience — able to flourish in harsh climates — and believed to strengthen the immune system and lift the spirit. During the Edo period, it became a seasonal symbol of purification and longevity. It was customary for the fruit to be harvested just before the solstice, its oils used not only in baths but also in home remedies, perfumes, and even incense for temple offerings. The scent of yuzu was said to sharpen the mind and dispel sluggishness — a spiritual cleansing as much as a physical one. Healers noted that its bright, almost piney aroma could “cut through winter fog” both in the weather and in one’s thinking.
It was even believed that the rough, knobby skin of the fruit held more power than the flesh — a texture said to trap the sun’s energy from the waning year and release it again through steam and warmth.
Though centuries have passed, the Yuzu ritual remains. In temples, rural inns, and family homes, the golden fruit still drifts across bathwater like tiny suns on solstice night — offering warmth, health, and quiet renewal.

Inspired by this age-old custom, Yuzu Solstice reawakens a lost chapter of apothecary history. Here Eastern citrus lore meets traditional European soap craft. Once traded for its medicinal strength — each bar is an ode to sunlight after snowfall, early spring winds, cleansing waters, and the ancient belief that scent could shift the soul’s season.
We’ve hand-blended the tart brightness of Japanese yuzu with bits of orange zest and oatmeal for gentle exfoliation, Yuzu Solstice invokes the spirit of restorative bathing; a bar to mark transitions — of day, of year, of self — a soap for both cleansing and celebration.

Ingredients: Olive Oil, Distilled Water, Coconut Oil, Sodium Hydroxide, Sustainable Palm Oil, Shea Butter, Apricot Kernel Oil, Castor Oil, Fragrance, Oatmeal, Orange Powder, Cosmetic Minerals, Rosemary Extract