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Delonix

FLOWERS  /  floral · tropical · fresh
Delonix
Delonix perfume ingredient
CategoryFLOWERS
Subcategoryfloral · tropical · fresh
Origin
VolatilityHeart Note
BotanicalDelonix regia
AppearanceBright red-orange flowers (no commercial extract)
Odor StrengthMedium
Producing CountriesMadagascar, India, Caribbean, East Africa, Southeast Asia
PyramidHeart

A tropical floral whisper with green-peppery edges. The scent of flame tree blossoms is subtle: warm, slightly sweet, with a sappy vegetal quality.

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

Scent

Faintly sweet and warm, with a green-vegetal backbone and a subtle peppery bite. Less heady than frangipani, less indolic than jasmine. The impression is of warmth and color translated into scent: something vivid but gentle. A trace of honey and tropical fruit sits in the background.

Evolution over time

Immediately

Immediately

Light green-sweet warmth, faintly peppery
After a few hours

After a few hours

Soft tropical floral, honey undertone
After a few days

After a few days

Barely perceptible warm sweetness

The Full Story

Delonix regia, the flamboyant tree or flame tree, is a tropical legume native to Madagascar that now grows across the tropics. Its vivid scarlet-orange flowers are visually spectacular but olfactorily restrained. The blooms produce a faint, sweet-green scent with peppery and slightly honey-like undertones.

In perfumery, delonix is a fantasy note. No commercial essential oil or absolute is produced from the flowers. The accord is a perfumer's interpretation: tropical floral warmth, a green-sappy quality from the plant's vigorous growth, and a touch of spice. It sits in the same conceptual space as frangipani but with less intensity and more greenness.

When used in composition, delonix provides a light tropical-floral modifier that avoids the heaviness of jasmine or tuberose. It suggests warm-climate botanicals without committing to a single identifiable flower. The note works in tropical, green-floral, and nature-inspired compositions.

This note in Première Peau. Nuit Elastique · Rose Monotone. Sample all seven extraits in the Discovery Set.

Related: Accord Eudora · African Marigold · Alpha Amylcinnamaldehyde · Alyssum · Angels Trumpet · Aquaflora · Ashoka Flower · Aurantiol

Did You Know?

Did you know?
Delonix regia was nearly extinct in its native Madagascar before widespread tropical planting as an ornamental tree ensured its survival. Most wild populations have been lost to deforestation.

Extraction & Chemistry

Extraction method: No commercial extraction. Delonix regia flowers produce insufficient volatile compounds for economic distillation. The perfumery note is a fantasy accord.

Molecular FormulaN/A - natural plant
CAS NumberN/A - natural plant
Botanical NameDelonix regia
IFRA StatusNo known restrictions
SynonymsFLAMBOYANT · ROYAL POINCIANA · FLAME TREE
Physical Properties
Odor StrengthMedium
AppearanceBright red-orange flowers (no commercial extract)

In Perfumery

Delonix is a fantasy heart note providing light tropical-floral warmth in compositions. It functions as a modifier, adding exotic botanical atmosphere without the weight of traditional tropical florals. The accord is typically built from light floral materials with green and spicy modifiers. Useful in tropical, island-themed, and green-floral compositions where a vivid but non-heavy floral presence is needed.

From the raw to the worn

This is what it becomes.