Sharp green-resinous, faintly acrid. Related to mango sap and cashew shell — that specific Anacardiaceae family character of resinous, slightly burning greenness. More aggressive than galbanum, less herbal than basil. A tropical warning note.
Evolution over time
Immediately
Immediately
Sharp green-resinous, acrid, tropical
After a few hours
After a few hours
Softer resinous green, less aggressive
After a few days
After a few days
Faint green-balsamic trace
The Full Story
Guao (Comocladia spp.) is a genus of tropical trees in the Anacardiaceae family — relatives of poison ivy, mango, and cashew. Native to the Caribbean, particularly Cuba, Hispaniola, and Puerto Rico. The common name 'maiden plum' reflects the deceptive beauty of the fruit, which can cause severe contact dermatitis.
The tree produces a caustic sap containing urushiol-type compounds (the same allergens found in poison ivy). The olfactory character of guao is green, resinous, slightly acrid — similar to of mango sap with a sharper, more medicinal edge.
Guao is not a perfumery ingredient in any standard sense. Its inclusion in fragrance databases reflects the expanding appetite for unusual botanical references rather than commercial availability. No extract exists for perfumery use.
When referenced in fragrance compositions, the note describes a sharp, tropical-resinous green — the smell of breaking a branch in a Caribbean dry forest.
This note in Première Peau. Simili Mirage · Gravitas Capitale. Sample all seven extraits in the Discovery Set.
Comocladia dentata (guao prieto) produces a black sap that was historically used as an indelible ink in the Caribbean — it stains skin and fabric permanently, but the same sap causes blistering dermatitis on contact.
Extraction & Chemistry
Extraction method: No commercial extraction exists. The urushiol-type sap of Comocladia species causes severe contact dermatitis, making direct handling hazardous. Any guao-inspired accord would be entirely reconstructed from safer materials.
Molecular Formula
N/A — no commercial essential oil
CAS Number
N/A — no commercial essential oil (toxic sap — causes dermatitis)
Botanical Name
Comocladia dodonaea
IFRA Status
No known restrictions
Synonyms
Maiden Plum, Yellow Mombin
Physical Properties
Odor Strength
Medium
Lasting Power
24 hours
Appearance
Small tropical tree with trifoliate leaves and small red to dark purple drupes; resinous sap
In Perfumery
Guao is not a standard perfumery material — no commercial extract exists. The note describes a sharp, resinous, tropical green accord. When reconstructed, it would use galbanum, green-resinous materials, and tropical green synthetics. Functions as an exotic green modifier in Caribbean-inspired or tropical forest compositions. The urushiol content of the natural plant makes direct extraction impractical and dangerous.
