Gourmand

Tonka Bean

Note Profile

Botanical 5,107 perfumes

Also Known As

Brazilian Tonka Bean Absolute, Roasted Tonka, Roasted Tonka Bean, Tonka Absolute, Tonka Bean Absolute, Tonka Bean Accord, Tonka Beans, tonka-like sweetness, Tonkabean

About

Sweet, almond-like

Scent Profile

Tonka bean has a sweet, warm scent with pronounced notes of vanilla, almond, and subtle hints of cinnamon and clove. Its aroma is creamy and slightly powdery, often developing a rich, balsamic depth as it dries down. The scent evolves to reveal soft, coumarin-driven nuances that linger in the base.

ScentWheel

Breadthfocused

EnvelopeBase · ~36h lasting

Family Amber · Musk · Leather, Sweet & Gourmand

Read off the wheel, not a label applied to the note.

What this is made of

coumarin

Principally this

CAS 91-64-5

Coumarin is the characterising odorant of tonka bean and the molecule the note is built on.

Declarable allergen: Named in EU Annex III as Coumarin products must list this name above a set concentration
Restricted: An IFRA Standard limits how much of this a perfumer can use the limit applies to the perfumer, not the wearer

These are facts about the substance, not about any perfume with this note.

Why that matters

A perfume that names Tonka Bean can use a different extract, a reformulated version, or a synthetic reconstruction. It can also hold less than the amount that requires a declaration. We cannot tell which applies. These rows cover only the substances we hold a link for.

How the layers join

Origin

Tonka beans are seeds from the Dipteryx odorata tree, native to Central and South America. The beans are harvested, dried, and then cured to crystallize coumarin, the primary aromatic compound, before being extracted for perfumery.

Usage in Perfumery

Perfumers use tonka bean primarily as a base note to impart warmth and sweetness, often in gourmand, oriental, and fougère compositions. It blends well with vanilla, tobacco, amber, woods, and spices, providing a softening and rounding effect to the fragrance structure.