Asanoha, the Hexagon, and Six Scents
A hexagon lies hidden within our packaging.
Not many people notice it—and that is intentional. We chose the form not to make a statement, but to give the design meaning.
The pattern used across Bridge and Blend’s packaging is asanoha, or hemp leaf: an ancient Japanese motif built around a hexagonal structure. Viewed as a whole, it reveals an intricate field of interlocking hexagons.
The history of the asanoha pattern dates back to the Heian period, when it appeared on the garments of Buddhist statues. By the Edo period, it had become a familiar motif on kimono worn by people from all walks of life. It was also traditionally used for infants’ clothing, expressing the wish that a child would grow straight, strong, and healthy—like the hemp plant.
The pattern carries many layers of meaning: growth and vitality, protection from harm, and enduring health. Its continuous, interconnected structure—known as asanoha tsunagi—also symbolizes an unbroken connection that can extend infinitely.
When I chose this pattern, I noticed something else.
Look closely inside the hexagons, and you will see intersecting triangles and straight lines. The triangles echo the shape of cone incense, while the lines recall incense sticks. It may be a coincidence. Yet I found myself wanting to see meaning in it.
And there is one more connection: Bridge and Blend has six incense scents.
During the Heian period, when Japan’s fragrance culture flourished, the number six also held particular significance in the world of incense. Perhaps we, too, were quietly drawn to that number when we created our six States of Ritual.
Sometimes, meaning reveals itself only later.
In that way, it is much like scent.
