While the most fitting place to admire the perfumed cherry blossoms is in Tokyo, Japan, a few stateside locales are lucky enough to welcome the fragrant flowers each spring. Dallas, TX, Philadelphia, PA, Brooklyn, NY, Portland, OR, and, of course, Washington, DC, all make the list. There’s one reason in particular why the latter is home to the United States’ largest Cherry Blossom Festival: The mayor of Tokyo gifted 3,000 trees to the district in 1912 as a symbol of Japanese-American friendship at the time.
The only issue is that they don’t stick around for that long. Thanks to unpredictable weather and fluctuating temps, “bloom watch” is getting pushed back further and further. If you want to actually see and sniff these beauties in person (and obvs snap a pic for your ‘gram), you’ll want to head to DC before April 15 for peak bloom. In the meantime, here are a few blossom-infused treatments and products to tide you over.
TREATMENTS
Cherry Blossom Treatments at Argentta Spa at The Watergate Hotel in Washington, DC
When you’re not searching for blossoms outdoors, you’ll want to spend all your free time breathing in the aroma at Argentta Spa. Choose from mani/pedis with sakura (the Japanese word for the flowering cherry tree) creams or their decadent blossom body treatment, which consists of a lemongrass and bamboo scrub, followed by a tapping technique during which a rice bran pouch filled with cherry blossoms (and soaked in their oil) is pounded all over to release toxins found underneath the muscle. A shiatsu-inspired massage completes the treatment with a generous application of fresh lime-scented lotion, and then you’ll be back on your feet and ready for another round of DC sightseeing. (Photo via The Watergate Hotel)
Cherry Blossom Champagne Body Treatment at The Spa at Four Seasons in Washington, DC
The best part of a spa experience (after the whole pampering thing) is the glass of Champagne that comes at the end, so embrace the best of both worlds with a cherry blossom-meets-Champagne treatment. At The Spa at Four Seasons your entire body will be exfoliated via dry brushing before you’re immersed in a deep soaking tub for a little zen time. Next comes a Champagne and salt scrub to really get your skin feeling super soft, followed by a healthy dose of body butter during a massage that will help you drift off in style. (Photo via Four Seasons)
L’Occitane Cherry Blossom Shimmered Lotion
This luminescent lotion absorbs quickly into the skin and transports you to the south of France, given it’s enriched with a cherry extract straight from the Luberon region of Provence. Consider this the perfect springtime moisturizer for warm temps and exposed skin, pretty much.
Products
Red Flower Japan Wild Cherry Blossom Rice Buff
When you need to slough off all that dead winter skin, this is your go-to pouch to do just that. It’s packed with rice bran to exfoliate, along with antioxidant-infused vitamin E and elasticity-boosting essential fatty acids, but the best part is the addictive smell, thanks to a double dose of cherry blossom oil and wild cherry bark.
Tamahada Handcream March/Cherry Blossoms Hand Cream
If you’re on blossom watch, or plan on visiting any of the stateside parks or arboretums, make sure to stash this cream in your bag to impress your crew. Nothing says I’m an expert on sakura like this tiny decorative tin covered in blooms.
This limited-edition lip balm of nourishing camellia oil leaves lips soft with a sheer blush of pink and a hint of glamorous 23-karat gold. Inspired by Kyoto’s delicate springtime cherry blossoms, this formula marries the iconic botanical with time-honored camellia oil.
7. Berdoues Somei Yoshino Cologne Grand Cru ($85): The only way to keep the short-lived essence of the cherry blossom scent around you year-round is to spray it on, and Berdoues’ Somei Yoshino fragrance is one of the finest and well-crafted options on the market, thanks to a unique blend of floral ingredients: shiso from Japan, jasmine sambac from India, and patchouli from Indonesia.