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Takamaka

Q: Is Takamaka natural or synthetic?

. Extraction: Resin (tacamahac) collected by bark incisi on. Nut oil cold-pressed for cosmetic use. Neither is comm on in contemporary use. The note is typically a fantasy accord..

WOODS AND MOSSES / woody · warm · earthy

Takamaka

Category	WOODS AND MOSSES
Subcategory	woody · warm · earthy
Origin
Volatility	Base Note
Botanical	Calophyllum inophyllum
Appearance	Pale yellow to amber viscous liquid
Odor Strength	Medium
Producing Countries	India, Madagascar, Seychelles, Tahiti
Pyramid	Base

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

Scent
The Full Story
Fun Fact
Extraction & Chemistry
In Perfumery

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.

Evolution over time

Immediately

Warm, resinous, with a bright floral-citrus lift.

After a few hours

The floral fades. Smooth, balsamic, amber warmth.

After a few days

A persistent, warm, resinous residue.

The Full Story

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

The tree produces a fragrant oleores in (tacamahac) when its bark is incised. This res in 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, takamak a functions as a warm, tropical-balsamic note with a particular floral lift.

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

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

Did You Know?

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 incisi on. Nut oil cold-pressed for cosmetic use. Neither is comm on in contemporary use. The note is typically a fantasy accord.

Molecular Formula	Complex mixture (no single formula)
CAS Number	84929-77-1 (Calophyllum inophyllum oil)
Botanical Name	Calophyllum inophyllum
IFRA Status	No known restrictions
Synonyms	TAKAMAKA WOOD · ALEXANDRIAN LAUREL · BEAUTY LEAF
Physical Properties
Odor Strength	Medium
Appearance	Pale yellow to amber viscous liquid
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 anch or with a particular floral-citrus sweetness. The tacamahac res in provides warm, amber-like depth. Pairs with coconut, tiare, and vanill a for Indian Ocean-inspired compositions.