‘I smell chocolate and newborn with a hint of vanilla.’
‘I can't quite place the smell, but it's wonderful. I can smell the shared notes in the mother and baby products.’
‘I used the baby wash on Bodi's hair last night and it smells incredible. I remember thinking: do I detect a hint of breast milk?’
These are just a few of the comments from the mothers who helped us develop our Kenkô producten, pregnant mothers, just like me at the time. My pregnancy marked the start of a magical journey through a new and transformative world. It also inspired me to develop a personal care line that would support this transformation.
Being pregnant made it easy for me to relate to the experiences of other pregnant women. This, along with the invaluable input of mothers and mothers-to-be, was the inspiration behind Kenkô. This personal care line for mothers and babies can be used throughout pregnancy and supports the transition from woman to mother. I developed a nourishing body oil, that allows me to create intimate memories with my baby while focusing on my own self-care. During these moments of intimacy, a new idea emerged: a nourishing baby oil inspired by and derived from the mama oil. And with that, a new product was born! While the foundation had been laid, I was left with a feeling I couldn’t shake: the desire to cherish these beautiful memories forever. Unforgettable memories forever anchored in my mind.
Memories Evoked By Scent Associations
Scent is the key to unlocking a treasure trove of memories. The smell of freshly mown grass will always remind me of spring and the smell of honeysuckle will always bring back memories of warm summer nights. The scent of pine cones and fig trees create instant holiday vibes.
The power of scent and its ability to evoke emotions is incredible. With this knowledge, and the help of other mothers, I started my search to capture the scent of motherhood. A scent that brings to mind feelings of love, security, tenderness, and intimacy. I am proud to announce that, based on the positive feedback from our Kenkô mothers, we managed to do just that: capture the scent of motherhood. With this fragrance, cherished memories of motherhood are forever within reach for me and countless other mothers.
The Difference Between Our Mama And Baby Products??
All ingredients were selected for their gentle yet effective properties. We opted for beautiful, natural oils, each with their own specific function for babies, mothers, and mothers-to-be, included in active concentrations for the best effect. These formulations were specifically tailored to the needs and wishes of both mother and child. The baby oil, for example, is ideal for the dry and delicate skin of newborns.
The mother and baby fragrances share similar notes and are clearly related yet distinctly different. When designing our fragrances, the baby scent was literally born from the mother scent, with the top notes in the latter reflected in those of the former. The baby scent is hypoallergenic, milder, and softer. The mother scent contains (among others) organic mandarin orange, which is both relaxing and energising.
Deliberate Choices
Kenkô is diligent about its ingredients, formulas, packaging, partnerships, and shipping practices. All of our products are manufactured in the Netherlands and packaged in bottles made from 100% recycled plastic. All supplemental packaging material is made from agricultural waste. For example, we use the leaves and branches left over from the harvest process as raw materials for paper and cardboard. This percentage of agricultural waste replaces the percentage of fibres derived from trees. With many mothers regularly placing repeat orders for our Kenkô products, we are exploring the possibility of introducing a refill option next year.
It is our mission to make a positive contribution to the most magical time in a mother's life. We believe this period should be just as magical and meaningful for all women. To help achieve this, we make a monthly donation to the Mommaluv foundation, with the help of our Kenkô mothers. These donations contribute to a healthy start for newborns and new mothers in Bolivia, Ecuador, Ghana, Kenia, Liberia, Uganda, Suriname, Sri Lanka, and Tanzania.
Hugs Spray A Collab Between Kenkô x Nina Pierson
The mama-fragrance Hugs is Kenkô’s newest product. Each 'mommy to be' follows her path guided by her (primal) instinct. This instinct comes in its full power during the maternity period. Kenkô and Mama'en strongly believe in this natural force leading every mother (to be) her way.
The fragrance is a gentle reminder to pay attention to the magical transformation and keep following your maternity path. Hugs is warm, subtle, intimate, and stimulates relaxation. The fragrance notes were selected for the emotions, associations, and moods they evoke, as well as their effect on the body and mind. For example, high quality natural vanilla bourbon was chosen for the feeling of security, warmth, and cosiness it evokes. Natural sandalwood was chosen for its warm, enveloping scent, its relaxing and nourishing properties, and its important role in spiritual traditions.
Hugs is made of 100% natural oils of traceable origin. The full transparency of all (perfume) ingredients is essential for the brand. To make the spray even milder they decided to work with pure alcohol, made from local wheat.
Enjoy the beautiful journey as a mother or as mother-to-be.
Liefs Eveline
Founder of Kenkô
