Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Pakistan, Philippines, Thailand
Pyramid
Base
Resinous, turpentine-like, with a green-tropical warmth. The wood smells nothing like the fruit: it is darker, more pungent, with a phenolic sharpness from the urushiol-related sap.
Resinous and turpentine-like with a green-tropical warmth. Phenolic and sharp when fresh. Less clean than sandalwood, rougher than teak. The Anacardiaceae family relationship shows: a subtle cashew-like quality and a faint skin-irritating pungency. Wild, equatorial, and unpolished.
Evolution over time
Immediately
Immediately
Sharp resinous, turpentine-like, green
After a few hours
After a few hours
Phenolic warmth, tropical-woody depth
After a few days
After a few days
Persistent resinous woody base
Terroir & Maturity
Indicative 2025 wholesale prices.
The Full Story
Mango tree (Mangifera indica) is a tropical year-round of the Anacardiaceae family, related to cashew, pistachio, and poison ivy. The wood and sap have a markedly different scent from the familiar fruit: resinous, turpentine-like, and pungent, with phenolic compounds related to urushiol (the irritant in poison ivy).
The wood is used for inexpensive furniture and construction in tropical regions. When freshly cut, it releases a sharp, resinous aroma with green-tropical undertones. The sap can cause contact dermatitis in sensitive individuals due to its urushiol-related compounds.
In perfumery, mango tree is a natural note providing a tropical woody-resinous character distinct from temperate woods. The turpentine-like sharpness and phenolic edge give it a wild, equatorial quality. It functions in tropical, green-woody, and exotic compositions.
This note in Première Peau. Nuit Elastique · Albâtre Sépia. Sample all seven extraits in the Discovery Set.
Mango wood smoke is the traditional fuel for tandoori cooking in India. However, burning mango wood (or any Anacardiaceae family member) can release urushiol-type compounds in the smoke, causing respiratory irritation similar to poison ivy exposure in sensitive people.
Extraction & Chemistry
Extraction method: Steam distillation of the wood is possible but uncommon in commercial perfumery. The sap and bark contain skin-sensitizing phenolic compounds that require careful handling. More commonly, the mango-tree note is approximated from related materials.
Mango tree is a natural modifier in tropical, green-woody, and exotic compositions. It provides resinous-turpentine woody character with a phenolic edge. The tropical origin and Anacardiaceae chemistry distinguish it from temperate woods. Used sparingly due to potential skin-sensitizing compounds. Functions as a raw, unrefined tropical wood note.
