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Curry Tree

SPICES  /  spicy · fresh · citrus
Curry Tree
Curry Tree perfume ingredient
CategorySPICES
Subcategoryspicy · fresh · citrus
Origin
VolatilityHeart Note
BotanicalBergera koenigii
AppearancePale yellow to amber liquid
Odor StrengthHigh
Producing CountriesIndia, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand
PyramidHeart

Warm, herbaceous-spicy with a particular curry-like aroma. Curry leaf (Murraya koenigii) smells nothing like curry powder: greener, more citrus-herbal, with a nutty roasted quality.

  1. Scent
  2. Terroir & Origins
  3. The Full Story
  4. Fun Fact
  5. Extraction & Chemistry
  6. In Perfumery

Scent

Green, herbal-citrus, warm. Less pungent than cumin, less sweet than coriander, more specifically aromatic. The smell of fresh curry leaves in hot oil is a identifiable aromas in South Asian cooking.

Evolution over time

Immediately

Immediately

Green-herbal brightness with peppery freshness
After a few hours

After a few hours

Warm nutty-aromatic spice
After a few days

After a few days

Faint warm-herbal persistence

Terroir & Chemotypes

Indicative 2025 wholesale prices.

The Full Story

The curry tree (Murraya koenigii) is a Rutaceae family plant native to South Asia. The fresh leaf is more herbal-citrus than curry powder, with nutty-roasted quality when heated.

Essential oil contains beta-caryophyllene, beta-phellandrene, alpha-pinene, and linalool.

In perfumery, curry leaf is a niche spice modifier adding aromatic herbal-citrus warmth, subtler and greener than cumin-based curry notes.

This note in Première Peau. Insuline Safrine · Gravitas Capitale. Sample all seven extraits in the Discovery Set.

Related: Allspice · Anethole · Anise · Asafoetida · Baking Spices · Bay Leaf · Biryani · Caraway

Did You Know?

Did you know?
Murraya koenigii is in the Rutaceae (citrus) family, not related to Piper nigrum or Curcuma longa. Its citrus-herbal freshness is a family trait it shares with oranges and lemons.

Extraction & Chemistry

Extraction method: Steam distillation of fresh leaves. CO2 extraction preserves a more complete profile.

↑ See Terroir & Origins for origin-specific methods.

Molecular FormulaComplex essential oil — key components: sabinene (C₁₀H₁₆), β-caryophyllene (C₁₅H₂₄), α-pinene (C₁₀H₁₆)
CAS Number91771-61-8
Botanical NameBergera koenigii
IFRA StatusNo known restrictions
SynonymsMurraya, Curry Leaves
Physical Properties
Odor StrengthHigh
AppearancePale yellow to amber liquid

In Perfumery

Niche spice modifier in the heart zone. Key volatiles: beta-caryophyllene, beta-phellandrene, alpha-pinene, linalool.

From the raw to the worn

This is what it becomes.