[World’s first] Sustainable fragrance experience. Bridge and, an incense brand that delivers the scent of the Heian period
Blend produces “Cacao Husk Incense” by VANILLABEANS, a craft chocolate specialty store from Yokohama.
*Project Felicia LLC*
Press release: September 17, 2024
**
[World’s first] Sustainable fragrance experience. Bridge and, an incense brand that delivers the scent of the Heian period
Blend produces “Cacao Husk Incense” by VANILLABEANS, a craft chocolate specialty store from Yokohama.
[World’s first] Cocoa husk incense made from upcycled materials Project Felicia, LLC operates Bridge and Blend, an incense brand that delivers the scent of the Heian period.
(Representative: Hiro
Nakayama) is the world’s first cacao husk-based product released by Chocolate Design Co., Ltd. (Representative Director: Masahiro Otsuki, Headquarters: Yokohama City), which operates the craft chocolate specialty store VANILLABEANS from Yokohama. We produced the incense “Cacao Husk Incense”.
This product is manufactured by Moririn Co., Ltd., a textile trading company (Headquarters: Ichinomiya City, Aichi Prefecture,
Representative Director and President: Mori)
Shunsuke’s new business office transcends the boundaries of industry to create new value and re-enjoy material blessings, turning waste into “good” without wasting it. In order to realize the co-creation of a sustainable society, [Re
Born from the LABO project.
*About Cocoa Husk and VANILLABEANS upcycle business*
cacao husk
Cocoa husks are the outer husks of cacao beans, which are the raw material for chocolate. When cacao beans are roasted and crushed, they are separated into the outer skin, the cacao husk, and the inner cacao nibs, and the cacao husk is not used in the process of making chocolate.
At Chocolate Design Co., Ltd., approximately 12 tons of cacao husk are produced annually through chocolate production. In order to find a way to upcycle these items without throwing them away, we launched the Cocoa Husk Project in 2020, and in 2022 we will commercialize tumblers using cacao husk, and in 2023 we will distribute cacao husk to breweries across the country. We have been participating in a craft beer project using Husk. And this time, we have successfully commercialized the world’s first (*) “Cacao Husk Incense.”
*This is the world’s first case of upcycling incense using cacao husk. Survey of 40 products containing cacao husk worldwide, as of August 28, 2024, researched by Stella Associe Co., Ltd.
*Project Overview*
“Cacao Husk Incense” is an upcycle project run by Moririn Co., Ltd. (Representative: Shunsuke Mori, head office location: Ichinomiya City, Aichi Prefecture) that aims to co-create a sustainable society across industry boundaries.
The incense brand “Bridge and Blend” (Representative: Hiro
Nakayama (head office location: Chuo-ku, Tokyo) and the craft chocolate specialty store “VANILLABEANS” have teamed up.
Cacao husk is a material that is not traditionally used as a raw material for incense. There are many incense products that use cacao beans, the raw material for chocolate, but this is the world’s first sale of upcycled incense that focuses on “cocoa husks”, excluding the cacao nibs used in chocolate production. . We took on the challenge of blending incense ingredients that maintain the aroma of cacao while taking advantage of the roasted flavor of cacao husk, and through repeated development, we have completed a unique sustainable product. *Product overview*
[World’s first] Cocoa husk incense package made from upcycled materials *The incense stand is not for sale.
*Product name: Cacao husk incense*
Price: 2,200 yen (tax included)
Husk’s upcycled products contain theobromine, which reduces stress and enhances relaxation effects. Contains sandalwood, cinnamon, and cloves. Please spend a moment being healed by the sweet and soft scent reminiscent of chocolate.
Contents: 1 box of 15 pieces
Main ingredients: Sandalwood, cinnamon, clove, cuckoo, premium benzoin, dragon brain, vanillin, cacao husk powder, cacao oil Burning time: about 30 minutes
Fragrance duration: Approximately 30 to 60 minutes *Depends on the size and structure of the space
sale
Vanilla Beans Minato Mirai Main Store (*Closed on Wednesdays) Vanilla Beans Kawasaki store
vanilla beans the roastery
vanilla beans bayside
Official online shop (https://www.vanillabeans.yokohama/view/item/000000000450
release date
Online: September 18, 2024 (Wednesday) 10:00~
Physical store: Thursday, September 19, 2024
*Comment from Ai Suzuki, VANILLABEANS Cocoa Husk Business Leader* Chocolate Design Co., Ltd. Corporate Planning Office Ai Suzuki While searching for ways to utilize cacao husk, Mr. Miyagawa gave us the idea of “incense,” which we were able to commercialize. Hiro created a wonderful incense that is elegant and soothing while still retaining the fragrant cacao scent.
I am also very grateful to Mr. Nakayama. Relax by eating chocolate while burning cacao husk incense at home. I would be happy if you could spend a moment in your busy life where you can feel the charm of cacao with your entire body. We hope to continue to increase the number of products using cacao husk, so please look forward to it. *Comment from Sho Miyagawa, operator of Re LABO, Moririn Co., Ltd.* New Business Office Rights Business Re LABO Management Sho Miyagawa Re
As part of LABO’s concept of “turning worthless things “Waste” into valuable things “Good”, we have produced upcycled products of incense and cacao husk. We want you to enjoy it not only by taste but also by smell.We will continue to expand the possibilities of cacao husk together with Chocolate Design.
*Comment from Incense Producer Hiro Nakayama*
Project Felicia Representative｜Bridge and Blend Incense Producer Hiro Nakayama Thank you for giving me this valuable opportunity to be involved in making incense using upcycled materials. Recent trends in Japan are different from traditional incense, and there is an increase in incense products with perfume-like and herbal notes. Also, from a global perspective, gourmand perfumes with sweet and delicious scents like sweets and desserts are gaining popularity. Under such
circumstances, upcycled incense made from cacao husk, a material discarded during the chocolate manufacturing process, is a
“traditional scent.”
This is a unique initiative of “x trend x sustainable”.
Bridge and Blend is an incense brand with sustainability as one of its core values.
As a company that handles products, it was a meaningful experience for us to be involved in VANILLABEANS’ project. We hope that customers who purchase VANILLA BEANS can enjoy an immersive chocolate experience through their sense of smell and taste.
*About VANILLABEANS*
VANILLA BEANS, an international fair trade certified business and a member of the JICA Sustainable Cacao Platform, was established in 2000 and started selling through an online shop, and now also has brick-and-mortar cafes mainly in Minato Mirai, Yokohama. A craft chocolate specialty store from Yokohama. We started using fair trade chocolate in 2007, and are creating systems and projects that will bring smiles to everyone involved with chocolate, such as building an elementary and junior high school in Ghana.
Currently, a cacao tree planting project is underway in the Republic of Ecuador, and in April 2024, we paid a courtesy visit to the Ecuadorian Embassy in Japan.
Brand site: https://gigaplus.makeshop.jp/cdcom/brand.html
* About Moririn Co., Ltd. *
For more than 350 years since our founding, we have focused on developing unique materials, focusing on materials that can be said to be the origin of the textile industry, in order to contribute to “creating a richer lifestyle.” Currently, we have a wide range of businesses run by personnel who are well-versed in each process, from spinning to weaving, knitting, dyeing, and sewing. We will strive to be the best partner that provides new added value to our customers, from upstream to downstream, according to their needs.
As consumer needs and lifestyles become more diverse, fluid, and interconnected, the New Business Office focuses on how fashion, beauty, food, interior design, etc. fit together, and what added value they provide. We will work with people from a variety of industries, not just the textile and apparel industries, to propose plans and operational developments such as collaboration measures using domestic and international IP.
Corporate site: https://www.moririn.co.jp/
*About Bridge and Blend*
Incense brand “Bridge and
Blend” will be released through crowdfunding on April 18, 2021, “Incense Day.” “Six” is a collection inspired by scents representative of the Heian period.
in
Sense” delivers old and new “Japanese scents” that blend in with modern lifestyles, with a focus on 100% natural fragrance ingredients, handmade products, and sustainability. 2023
Hospitality Selection Award Winner. Currently, in addition to our own e-commerce site, our products are sold at two stores in the United States, and we are conveying the charm of traditional Japanese culture to people all over the world. In the busy digital age, we propose a luxurious time to take you back in time and calm your mind with the analog gesture of lighting incense.
Brand site: https://www.bridgeandblend.com/
*Since we also send joint releases on the same day, you may receive releases with the same content. note that.
Project Felicia Company Profile
Company name: Project Felicia, LLC
Location: Chuo-ku, Tokyo/Brooklyn, New York
Representative: Hiro Nakayama
Established: February 2013
Service URL: https://www.bridgeandblend.com/pages/story
Company URL: https://www.project-felicia.com/
Business details: Marketing, branding, events, product development, incense production using scents/Management of own brand “Bridge and Blend”
Press contact: hello@bridgeandblend.com