Promotool Launches New Product "Forest Bath HINOKI" Leveraging Forest Medicine Insights

Promotool Inc., a scent-technology company that scientifically analyzes and designs fragrances (headquartered in Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Kensuke Ogata), today announced the launch of a new office space fragrance, "Forest Bath HINOKI," developed through collaborative research with Professor Li Qing of Nippon Medical School, a world authority in forest medicine.

This product was developed with long-duration use in office environments in mind, and aims to establish technology to safely and stably release forest-bathing components (phytoncides) into indoor spaces. We are accelerating proposals to position this as a new environmental infrastructure that strongly supports major companies’ "human capital management," which places importance on improving employee wellbeing. Leveraging our scent expertise cultivated through providing fragrances for luxury facilities such as JAL, Asuka III, and the Mampei Hotel, and the knowledge cultivated as a member of the Japanese Society of Forest Medicine, we have now focused these insights for health-oriented management.

This product will be publicly unveiled for the first time at our booth during the Welfare & Benefits EXPO from Wednesday, June 17 to Friday, June 19.

Joint research between forest medicine and the Scent Technology Research Institute is verifying the effects of forest bathing in office spaces.

Since June 2025, Promotool has been conducting joint research with Professor Li Qing under the theme "Bring the air of the forest into the office." The research focuses on α-pinene, a representative component of the phytoncide groups that create the fresh forest air sensation, and aims to establish technology to release it into the space at safe concentrations for long periods in a stable manner (Note 1). This component is generally said to contribute not only to air purification via deodorization and odor removal, but also to sterilization, antibacterial and preservative effects, as well as mental and physical relaxation, stress reduction, and immune function enhancement. Evidence collection and verification are ongoing in this research.

We will publicly present for the first time at the Welfare & Benefits EXPO our new solution "Office Forest Bathing," which uses this phytoncide-containing fragrance "Forest Bath HINOKI" expected to produce effects similar to forest bathing in indoor spaces. At the same exhibition, we will also introduce ongoing research content regarding the potential of fragrances that may produce mechanisms similar to forest bathing. Spatial production using the domestically produced premium commercial aroma diffuser "Scent FOREST" will also be demonstrated, allowing visitors to quickly experience scents that reproduce natural environments. Please visit our booth to experience this advanced initiative that could provide a new option for corporate health management.

Welfare & Benefits EXPO — Promotool Booth Information

Features of the new product "Forest Bath HINOKI"

For raw material, we used the renowned Kiso hinoki essential oil, collected from the Akasawa Natural Recreation Forest—one of Japan’s three great scenic forests and the birthplace of Japanese forest bathing—selected carefully together with Professor Li from among many hinoki essential oils. Using our proprietary blending technology, evaluation trials using GC/MS (a method that precisely analyzes fragrance components) confirmed that the persistence of phytoncide components derived from hinoki essential oil dispersed into the space was more than twice that of the essential oil alone (Note 2).

We also pursued a natural, not-too-strong scent character that evokes an actual forest space. A faint, warm Kiso hinoki aroma gently spreads to create a pleasant forest-like atmosphere.

"Forest Bath HINOKI," born from the fusion of forest medicine knowledge, analytical data, and scent technology, is a new space fragrance that leverages the appeal of Kiso hinoki.

Joint research with Professor Li:

https://www.promotool.jp/250611-1/

Three values for large companies choosing "Office Forest Bathing"

Evidence-focused solutions based on medical knowledge

Under the supervision of Professor Li Qing, a world authority in forest medicine, we have rigorously examined components that contribute to relaxation and stress reduction. This enables the creation of office environments based on scientific evidence that go beyond simple refreshment.

Stable performance with "2x persistence" through proprietary technology

GC/MS analysis demonstrated that the spatial persistence of phytoncide components was more than twice that of conventional single essential oils. This realizes a long-lasting, stable "forest air" sensation even in large office spaces.

Environmental infrastructure supporting human capital management

By seamlessly surrounding entrances to workspaces with the scent of the forest, daily mental health care for employees becomes normalized. This contributes to improved recruitment appeal, reduced turnover, and productivity gains—creating an office environment loved by employees.

Future outlook

We will continue to create "wellbeing value through scent" by fusing the knowledge of forest medicine with the research results of the Scent Technology Research Institute. We will deepen research on α-pinene and continuously verify optimizations based on its characteristics. Through scent R&D, we challenge the creation of a market called "Office Forest Bathing" as a new environmental infrastructure supporting the wellbeing of working people, and contribute to realizing richer spatial experiences and wellbeing.

We accept requests for on-site demonstrations at corporate offices for corporations wishing to experience the product. Please experience the quality and persistence of the scent.

Professor Li Qing

MD, Clinical Professor and physician at Nippon Medical School Hospital. President and Secretary-General of the International Society of Nature and Forest Medicine (INFOM). President of the Japanese Society of Forest Medicine. Director of the World Association for Forests and Parks for Public Health. In 2001, he dedicated himself to cancer immunology research at Stanford University School of Medicine in the United States. After returning to Japan, he established the Forest Therapy Research Association in 2004, participated in the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries’ forest bathing research projects, and promoted research on the health promotion effects of forest bathing. In March 2007, he launched the "Forest Medicine Research Group" within the Japanese Society of Hygiene in collaboration with the Forestry Agency, the Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, and related societies, and became the representative convener.

As a global leader in forest medicine, forest therapy, and forest bathing, Professor Li has spread these practices in Japan and internationally, contributing to people’s health maintenance and the effective use of forest resources. In 2018, he simultaneously published "SHINRIN-YOKU / Forest Bathing" (PENGUIN BOOKS) in the UK and the US, where it became a bestseller in the US. Since then it has been translated and published in 50 countries and regions. His forest medicine research received the Japanese Society of Hygiene Award in fiscal 2021.

Creative Director, Scent Technology Research Institute, Deputy Director, Senior Perfumer Takeshi Watanabe — Profile

After graduating from perfumer school, he joined our company.

Since joining, he has led numerous original aroma creation projects for JAL executive lounges, the Mampei Hotel, JR Tower Hotel Nikko Sapporo, and major high-end cosmetics brands, receiving high acclaim in the industry at only 30 years old. He is regarded as one of Japan’s leading perfumers.

Note 1: Technology to establish stable, long-term release of components at safe concentrations into indoor spaces has not been definitively established.

Note 2: Based on evaluation trial results by GC/MS analysis. Persistence alone does not constitute proof of effectiveness.

About Promotool Inc.

Promotool Inc. is,