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Swartzia

Q: Is Swartzia natural or synthetic?

. Extraction: Extraction data not independently verified. Some artisanal operations may produce small quantities..

GREENS, HERBS AND FOUGERES / fresh · green · woody

Swartzia

Category	GREENS, HERBS AND FOUGERES
Subcategory	fresh · green · woody
Origin
Volatility	Heart Note
Botanical	Swartzia spp.
Appearance	Dark brown to reddish-brown resinous extract with balsamic, woody character
Odor Strength	Medium
Producing Countries	Brazil, Central America, South America
Pyramid	Heart

Rare Amazonian wood with warm, balsamic, slightly sweet character. Swartzia species produce dense tropical hardwoods with coumarin-adjacent scent profiles.

Scent
The Full Story
Fun Fact
Extraction & Chemistry
In Perfumery

Scent

Warm, balsamic, slightly sweet wood. Coumarin-adjacent character from the Fabaceae family. Less resinous than pine, less creamy than sandalwood, more balsamic than cedar. Dense and understated.

Evolution over time

Immediately

Warm balsamic-sweet wood

After a few hours

Coumarin-like warmth, tonka-adjacent

After a few days

Persistent balsamic-woody base, soft

The Full Story

Swartzia is a large genus of tropical trees in the Fabaceae (legume) family. Some species produce dense, resinous heartwoods with warm, balsamic, tonka-adjacent coumarin qualities.

Not common in commercial perfumery. The scent is closer to leguminous family character than to conifer or tropical woods.

In perfumery, swartzia represents an Amazonian-wood concept, typically approximated using coumarin, balsamic resins, and tropical wood notes.

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

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Related: Alpha Pinene · Angelica · Angelica Root · Angelica Root Oil · Artemisia · Barrenwort · Beachheather · Behini Tree

Did You Know?

Did you know?

Swartzia species are legumes, making them nitrogen-fixers. Their roots host Rhizobium bacteria, which is why these trees thrive in nutrient-poor Amazonian soils.

Extraction & Chemistry

Extraction method: Extraction data not independently verified. Some artisanal operations may produce small quantities.

Molecular Formula	Complex resinous extract — no single formula
CAS Number	N/A — no standard commercial extract CAS
Botanical Name	Swartzia spp.
IFRA Status	No known restrictions
Synonyms	Swartzia, Swartzia madagascariensis
Physical Properties
Odor Strength	Medium
Lasting Power	> 200 hours
Appearance	Dark brown to reddish-brown resinous extract with balsamic, woody character