Tsubaki & the Japanese Botanical Tradition
The Oil Japan Has Used for Centuries
In Japan, the camellia blooms in winter — vivid red and white flowers opening against bare branches. Camellia japonica, known as tsubaki (椿), has been cultivated and revered for more than a thousand years, but it is not the flower that holds the beauty secret. It is the oil cold-pressed from the small, hard seeds within the camellia's fruit: pale gold, nearly scentless, and one of the most elegant botanical oils in the world.
Tsubaki oil became a cornerstone of Japanese beauty practice for centuries — used by geishas to prepare skin before performance makeup and worked through hair to create its legendary lacquered shine. Japanese women in coastal regions with long traditions of camellia cultivation are often noted for the quality and longevity of their skin. The local association with tsubaki oil is well-documented in Japanese beauty literature.
The Chemistry Behind the Legacy
Tsubaki's exceptional performance comes down to its oleic acid content, which typically exceeds 80% — making it one of the most oleic-acid-rich plant oils in existence. Oleic acid is structurally close to the natural lipids in human sebum, the skin's own moisturising system. The result: tsubaki absorbs rapidly, integrates with the skin's barrier, and delivers conditioning without heaviness. It disappears into the skin, leaving only softness behind.
Rice Bran — The Companion Botanical
Tsubaki does not stand alone in the Japanese botanical canon. Rice bran oil — pressed from the outer layer of the rice grain — carries its own centuries of association with Japanese beauty. The "rice bran beauties" tradition (nukazuka bijin) described women who worked in rice mills and were noted for soft, smooth hands, attributed in part to regular contact with rice bran and its oils. Rich in squalane, vitamin E, and ferulic acid, rice bran oil complements tsubaki's conditioning work with its own suite of nourishing compounds.
Why Midori Uses It
Tsubaki oil is the foundational carrier across all three Midori body oils — Recover, Relax, and Restore — chosen for its unmatched absorption profile and its structural compatibility with skin's natural lipid matrix. Its lightweight elegance allows the active botanical ingredients in each formula to be delivered cleanly without heaviness. Every drop reflects what Japanese beauty tradition discovered through centuries of careful observation.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Understanding Our Extracts
Full Spectrum Oil is a whole-plant hemp extract that preserves the complete cannabinoid profile — CBD, CBG, CBN, CBDA, and trace cannabinoids — along with terpenes and up to 0.3% THC. It's the extract most associated with the entourage effect, the idea that hemp's compounds work better together than in isolation. Note: FSO products carry a risk of returning a positive drug test result.
CBD isolate is hemp's purest form — a crystalline powder refined to a single compound at 99%+ purity, with all other cannabinoids and terpenes removed. Isolates only reach their full potential when paired with other cannabinoids and terpenes, which is why Midori uses them as building blocks rather than a finished ingredient.
Broad spectrum CBD contains multiple cannabinoids and terpenes but has been refined to remove detectable THC. Rather than using a pre-made broad spectrum extract, Midori builds its own — combining individual cannabinoid isolates at precise ratios to create what we call the Midori Broad Spectrum. This approach lets us specify the exact milligram amount of each cannabinoid in every formula, rather than working from an estimate. Each blend is then enhanced with a curated selection of plant-derived terpenes to deepen the entourage effect and define each product's botanical character.
The entourage effect is the theory that hemp's cannabinoids, terpenes, and phytochemicals work more effectively together than any single compound does in isolation. Research is ongoing, but it's the foundation of Midori's formulation philosophy — using precisely built broad spectrum blends and curated terpene profiles to preserve the plant's full botanical complexity.
Terpenes are the naturally occurring aromatic compounds that give plants their distinctive scents — hemp contains over 100, including linalool, myrcene, limonene, and beta-caryophyllene. Beyond their sensory role, terpenes are thought to interact with the endocannabinoid system and influence how cannabinoids are experienced. Midori selects and blends specific plant-derived terpenes into each formulation to support its intended character.
Our Cannabinoids
Cannabigerol (CBG) is the biosynthetic precursor to CBD, THC, and other cannabinoids — making it relatively rare in finished extracts. It interacts with the endocannabinoid system through a distinct mechanism from CBD, and Midori incorporates it into select formulations to broaden the cannabinoid profile for a more complete botanical experience.
Cannabinol (CBN) is a mildly active cannabinoid that forms as THC oxidizes in the hemp plant over time. It's best known for its association with evening wellness routines, and Midori includes it in restorative formulations alongside chamomile, passionflower, and a curated nighttime terpene blend.
Cannabidiolic acid (CBDA) is the raw, unheated precursor to CBD found in fresh hemp — it converts to CBD through decarboxylation. CBDA interacts with serotonin receptors and COX-2 enzymes through mechanisms distinct from CBD, and Midori uses it in select formulations to keep the extract closer to the plant's native chemistry.
Researchers are actively studying CBD's interaction with the endocannabinoid system, a regulatory network involved in processes including sleep, mood, appetite, skin balance, and the body's response to physical stress. Many people incorporate CBD into daily wellness routines for its botanical properties and the sense of balance they associate with consistent use. Midori products are designed to support everyday wellness — not to treat any medical condition.
Our Products & Formulations
Every Midori formula is built on the Midori Broad Spectrum — a proprietary blend of individual cannabinoid isolates (CBD, CBG, CBN, and CBDA depending on the formula) combined at precise, performance-driven ratios. Because we start from isolates rather than a pre-blended extract, we can guarantee the exact milligram amount of each cannabinoid in every product. This foundation is then elevated with plant-derived terpenes and a curated set of functional botanicals, each chosen for their complementary role in the formula. Every ingredient has a purpose; nothing is decorative.
Topicals are applied directly to the skin, where cannabinoids interact with local receptors without entering the bloodstream in meaningful amounts — making them well-suited for targeted use. Ingestibles are processed through the digestive system and work systemically, with a slower onset and longer duration. Many people use both as complementary parts of a broader wellness routine.
Yes. Midori's formulations contain no animal-derived ingredients and are never tested on animals. For full ingredient information, refer to the INCI list on each product page.
Yes — Midori products are designed to integrate into an existing routine, and our botanical actives are well-established in professional formulation. If you take prescription medications or have specific skin sensitivities, consult a healthcare professional before adding new actives. A patch test is always advisable for reactive skin.
Dosing & How to Use
There's no universal CBD dose — the right amount depends on body weight, metabolism, and the specific product and concentration. Start low, observe your response over several days, and adjust incrementally.
For most adults new to CBD ingestibles, 25 –50mg per day is a common starting point, taken consistently at the same time each day. If you don't notice a response after five to seven days, increase gradually. Because CBD accumulates with regular use, allow at least two weeks before assessing whether a dose is right for you.
For ingestibles, once or twice daily — morning and evening — is the most common approach, helping maintain a steady level in the system. Topicals can be applied as needed to the area of focus at any time of day.
Topicals typically produce a localized effect within 15–45 minutes of application. Ingestibles generally take 30 minutes to 1 hour to take effect, with results lasting four to six hours or longer. Longer-term effects from consistent use are typically observed over weeks, as cannabinoids accumulate in the body's lipid-rich tissues.
Safety & Testing
Yes. All Midori products are tested by independent, accredited laboratories for cannabinoid content, THC levels, and contaminants including pesticides, heavy metals, residual solvents, and microbial impurities. Certificates of Analysis (COAs) can be found in the About Us drop down.
Midori's broad spectrum extracts are processed to bring THC to non-detectable levels, and standard drug tests screen for THC metabolites — not CBD. That said, no hemp-derived product can guarantee a negative result; individual factors like frequency of use and body composition affect outcomes. If you're subject to regular testing, review the product COA and consult your testing administrator before use.