Is Takamaka natural or synthetic?

A fantasy or concept note, not a single material.

Takamaka

AccordWOODS & MOSSESwoody · warm · earthy

BasePyramid

3/5Strength

—Tenacity

4Origins

Editorial noteWe own no rights to this material, its name or its trademark. This entry is independent editorial journalism, published under freedom of expression.

Specimen

Calophyllum inophyllum

Fantasy/Concept

Definition

Warm, resinous-balsamic, with a faint orange-blossom sweetness. A coastal Indian Ocean tree whose resin smells of warm amber and tropical flowers.

GREEN EARTHY SWEET BALSAMIC WARM FRESH TROPICAL

TAKAMAKA WOOD ALEXANDRIAN LAUREL BEAUTY LEAF

Type: Accord
Olfactive family: Woods
Subfamily: Earthy woods
Cluster: Earthy woods
Source: wood
Chemical class: fantasy note

Instruments

Pyramid

TTop

HHeart

BBase

3/5Strength

Medium

odour strength

Producing countries

India Madagascar Seychelles Tahiti

Scent

Warm, resinous, and faintly floral. Like leaning against a takamaka trunk on a tropical beach -- the bark exudes a warm, amber-like resin, and the flowers overhead add a clean, orange-blossom sweetness to the warm, salty air. Balsamic and coastal.

In PREMIEREPEAU

DISCOVERY SET7 × 2 ml →EXTRAIT DE PARFUMThe seven extraits →

The Full Story

Takamaka (Calophyllum inophyllum) is a large persistent tree found throughout the coastal regions of the Indian and Pacific Oceans, from East Africa to Polynesia. It is known by many names: tamanu, beauty leaf, beach calophyllum, kamani.

The tree produces a fragrant oleoresin (tacamahac) when its bark is incised. This resin has a warm, balsamic, amber-like character with a particular floral-citrus sweetness similar to of orange blossom. The flowers themselves are small, white, and fragrant, with a scent compared to orange blossom and jasmine.

The tamanu/takamaka nut oil (pressed from the seeds) is common in cosmetics but has minimal aromatic use in perfumery. The resin, however, has a long history: tacamahac resins from Calophyllum species were traded in Europe as incense and medicine from the 16th century onward.

In perfumery, takamaka functions as a warm, tropical-balsamic note with a particular floral lift.

—

Related: Alder · Alpha Humulene · Amaranth · Amberever · Amburana Bark · Antillone · Apple Tree

Did You Know?

Tamanu oil from Calophyllum inophyllum has been used for wound healing across the Pacific Islands for centuries. Modern research has confirmed the oil contains calophyllolide, a compound with documented anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties.

Extraction & Chemistry

Extraction method

Resin (tacamahac) collected by bark incision. Nut oil cold-pressed for cosmetic use. Neither is common in contemporary use. The note is typically a fantasy accord.

Formula: Complex mixture (no single formula)
Botanical: Calophyllum inophyllum
Appearance: Pale yellow to amber viscous liquid
Odour strength: Medium
Synonyms: TAKAMAKA WOOD ALEXANDRIAN LAUREL BEAUTY LEAF

IFRA status

See note

Not subject to an IFRA Standard (51st Amendment)

Physical properties

Specific gravity: 0.93000 to 0.96000 @ 25.00 °C.

In Perfumery

Heart-to-base note in tropical-balsamic, coastal, and warm-amber compositions. Functions as a resinous anchor with a particular floral-citrus sweetness. The tacamahac resin provides warm, amber-like depth. Pairs with coconut, tiare, and vanilla for Indian Ocean-inspired compositions.

Role in the formula

01modifier

02backbone

03lifting agent

04blender

05volume builder

Available as

synthetic accord fantasy note