Tonka Bean Absolute - 20%


Details

  • Botanical Name: Dipteryx odorata (Aubl.) Willd.
  • Origin: Brazil
  • Process: Solvent Extracted Absolute diluted to 20% in Fractionated Coconut Oil - Organic
  • Plant Part: Dried Beans (Seeds)
  • Cultivation: Conventional
  • Use: Natural Perfumery
  • Note: Base to Middle Note, Excellent Fixative
  • Aroma Family: Gourmand
  • Aroma: Very rich, caramel-like, powdery-sweet aroma of new mown hay with a warm herbal and soft tobacco-like undertone; very tenacious.
  • Contraindications: None known; please see Overview and Safety Considerations below.



Product Name SKU Price Qty
  1. Tonka Bean Absolute - 20% Sample (1 ml) 962-3
    $2.00
  2. Tonka Bean Absolute - 20% 5 ml 962-005
    $14.50
  3. Tonka Bean Absolute - 20% 15 ml (1/2 oz) 962-015
    $33.75
  4. Tonka Bean Absolute - 20% 30 ml (1 oz) 962-030
    $59.25
  5. Tonka Bean Absolute - 20% 2 oz 962-9
    $104.00
  6. Tonka Bean Absolute - 20% 4 oz 962-10
    $186.75
  7. Tonka Bean Absolute - 20% 8 oz 962-11
    $333.75
  8. Tonka Bean Absolute - 20% 16 oz 962-12
    $602.00
  9. For larger sizes or quantities please contact us for pricing and availability.         

Overview

Tonka Bean Absolute - 20% Dilution

Our delightfully aromatic Tonka Bean Absolute – 20% is premixed in organic fractionated coconut oil to make it more affordable and easy to use. Try blending it with your favorite essential oils, absolutes and CO2 extracts. Tonka Bean absolute is obtained from Dipteryx odorata, a large tropical tree native to Brazil, Guyana, and Venezuela, also cultivated in Nigeria and elsewhere in West Africa. It bears fruit containing a single black seed or ‘bean’. The beans are removed from the ripe fruit and dried, then soaked in rum or alcohol for 12-24 hours to make them swell. When removed from the alcohol bath, they become dried and shrunken, after which a whitish powder of crystallized coumarin progressively accumulates on them. The beans are then coarsely pulverized and subjected to a two-step process – solvent extraction followed by an alcohol wash – to produce the absolute.1,2

Tonka Bean absolute is used as a non-floral sweetener for introducing warm notes in chypres, fougères, new mown hay bases, Amber bases, Lavender bouquets, etc. It can add a natural gourmand effect in white flower accords, such as tuberose, and also harmonizes well with vanilla, leather and tobacco notes. Prior to the availability of synthetic coumarin, tinctures of tonka beans were long used as a source of natural coumarin, the compound responsible for the beans’ sweet vanilla-like aroma.3 Groom states “About 10% of all modern quality perfumes contain Tonka, examples being Je Reviens, Raffinée, and Red, and it appears among the main ingredients of some 13% of quality fragrances for men.”4

Also worth noting, and contrary to coumarin’s reputation, Tisserand cites that “humans are not at risk from externally applied coumarin, and no toxic effects have been reported for any coumarin-containing essential oil or absolute. … We see no need for a coumarin dermal limit, either for toxicity or skin sensitization.”5

PLEASE NOTE: Tonka Bean Absolute is intended for use in perfumery only. This oil has been pre-mixed for easy use and contains 20% Tonka Bean Absolute in 80% Fractionated Coconut Oil – Organic. For the pure and undiluted version of this oil, please see our Tonka Bean Absolute.  If you are interested in using Tonka Bean for body and skin care purposes, please see the high-quality, organic Tonka Bean Butter that we carry. Naturally occurring coumarin in Tonka Beans is considered safe for dermal use, and is not phototoxic, and not an allergen; this, however, is not the case with synthetic coumarin and coumarin derivatives.8

For information regarding the use of Tonka Bean in perfumery, please see:


Aromatic Profile: Very rich, caramel-like, powdery-sweet aroma of new mown hay with a warm herbal and soft tobacco-like undertone; very tenacious. Excellent fixative properties.


Appearance: Light golden yellow, transparent, slightly viscous liquid. This dilution contains particulate matter that can either be filtered out (see how to filter oil-based dilutions here) or that will disappear and reintegrate upon warming. 


Use: Natural Perfumery. For the pure and undiluted version of this oil, please see our Tonka Bean Absolute.  


Blending Suggestions: This product can be safely applied as a natural perfume as is. It is already diluted for easy use and contains 20% Tonka Bean Absolute in 80% organic Fractionated Coconut Oil. Although absolutes are not recommended for aromatherapy applications, they may be safely incorporated in extremely low percentages (less than 1%) for aromatic effects, specifically if incorporating into an all-over body oil or massage oil. Please note: a little goes a long way.


Blends Well With: Amber Oil – Fossilized, Ambrette, Bergamot and other Citrus oils, Boronia, Butter CO2, Carnation, Cinnamon, Citronella, Clary Sage, Clove, Coconut, Hay, Helichrysum, Jasmine, Lavandin, Lavender, Linden Blossom, Liquidambar (Styrax) Oleoresin, Neroli, Oakmoss, Orange Blossom, Orris, Osmanthus, Patchouli, Rose, Sandalwood, Tobacco, Tuberose, Vanilla, Vetiver, Ylang Ylang. “[T]he effect of true tonka absolute goes far beyond that of the coumarin contained in the absolute… [and explains] … the continuous use of tonka absolute today, [more than] a century after the appearance of synthetic coumarin on the perfume… market.”7 Tonka Bean absolute is used as a “delicate and subtle quality fixative for fine fragrance use.”8


Safety Considerations: None known; dermal application of coumarin is not hazardous.9 Dilute product further per Blending Suggestions above if using in a leave-on product to be applied over large portions of the body. A patch test should be performed before use for those with sensitive skin.


1 Lawless, Julia. The Encyclopedia of Essential Oils, 2013, p. 193.

2 Arctander, Steffen. Perfume and Flavor Materials of Natural Origin, 1960, p. 626.

3 Wells, F.V. and Marcel Billot. Perfumery Technology – Art: Science: Industry, 2nd ed., 1975/1981, p. 64.

4 Groom, Nigel. The New Perfume Handbook, 2nd ed., 1997, p. 330.

5 Tisserand, Robert and Rodney Young. Essential Oil Safety, 2nd ed., 2014, p. 543-544.

6 Ibid.

7 Arctander, Steffen. Perfume and Flavor Materials of Natural Origin, 1960, p. 624.

8 Lawless, Alec. Artisan Perfumery – or Being Led by the Nose, 2009, p. 70.

9 Tisserand, Robert and Rodney Young. Essential Oil Safety 2nd ed., 2014, pp. 455-6.


The FDA has not evaluated the statements on this website. No claims are made by Eden Botanicals as to the medicinal value of any products from Eden Botanicals. The information presented here is for educating our customers about the traditional uses of essential oils and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. You are responsible for understanding the safe application of these products. If you have any questions, please call or email us for further information.

Tonka Bean - Dipteryx odorata

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Customer Reviews for Tonka Bean Absolute - 20%

too diluted Review by
Rating
4
with this dilution, you only get the creamy and coumarin notes, while the undiluted version has more complex vanilla milk notes. It's still good for sampling, tho.
(Posted on 3/2/2024)
First time Review by
Rating
3
I have been wanting to get this for ages. It seems to be in a lot of my favorite perfumes. Surprisingly, I am a bit underwhelmed. I think I just had the wrong idea about what it would smell like. I expected to be able to smell something good right out of the bottle. To me, it has a slightly faint and medicinal scent. I hear good things about the benefits though so I will be able to use it other than as a fragrance.
(Posted on 5/13/2021)
I get the popularity Review by
Rating
5
This is my first time smelling tonka bean. When I opened the bottle I first experienced a hay aroma, followed by vanilla and caramel. To me, my nose also picked up on a hint of licorice, or anise, followed by bitter almond at the end. Complex oils are my favorite. They allow a varying and sometimes new experience everytime you open the bottle. I would wear this alone because it's so complex. However, I think it would blend beautifully with vanilla, benzion, bitter almond and I'm thinking vetiver. All in all, lovely product, and now I understand why some people are in love with it.
(Posted on 11/13/2020)
Creamy heaven in a bottle Review by
Rating
5
This is absolute-ly (pun intended) amazing! The smell is so much more than I could have imagined! It is a very complex, creamy, warm vanilla with very subtle undertones of spice. Blends beautifully with orange oil and lavender oil - I cannot wait to try it with other essential oils! A little goes a long way. I will definitely be buying this again- many times over!
(Posted on 4/25/2019)
Amazing quality Review by
Rating
5
This review comes after having this for a few months smells wonderful out of the bottle and also great when diluted and still is quite strong when diluted. As everyone's said very hay like maybe hints of vanilla/grass great stuff can't say that enough. Used in alot of male frags from C.K to aqua di gio perfume (black) bottle mixes well with almost anything and is a great fixative which is a plus!
(Posted on 1/26/2019)
A coumarin dream Review by
Rating
5
In recent years in Interior Alaska we've developed some problems with invasive plant species, namely bird vetch and white sweet clover. As combatting the newcomers is all but futile, I have taken to embracing the aromatic silver lining, particularly that of the coumarin-laced sweet clover. Late summer walks are particularly rewarding now, and I usually can't inhale deeply enough with these hay-scented foreigners proliferating all about. This tonka bean is exactly that lovely smell I have been hoping to have at hand. Thank you for making a pre-diluted version available so I can get right to mixing up some sweet summer air!
(Posted on 4/21/2016)
Yes! Euphoric. Absolutely. Review by
Rating
5
Some day, when I'm no longer a broke student, I will order a tremendous amount of the undiluted absolute. Until then...
I am head over heels in love with this stuff. I bought it in the beginning of my interest in fragrance-crafting, and was still not quite fully aware of the difference between TRUE and natural fragrances, and synthetic ones. I was expecting a "candy-caramel", "toffee-butter" scent in the processed sense... This taught me the difference.
Sounds dramatic, but when I first opened this and smelled it: I fell instantly in love. It's addictive. I try to use it sparingly but I always run out quickly. It IS caramel, toffee, and vanilla..but It does NOT smell like a Sugar Daddy. It smells like a TRULY natural, homemade creme brûlée, with a perfumey/powdery character. I can't say enough about it!
(Posted on 1/11/2016)
A very comforting and glowing scent Review by
Rating
5
Initially one is reminded of a sweet candy made with puncillo. But further in the scent transforms, becomes syrupy, smooth. A melody reminiscent of such comforts as sunlight on ones face or a warm cinnamon bun. If it were ever possible to bottle the scent of a kind smile, Tonka Bean would definitely be it.
(Posted on 8/13/2015)
Wow! Review by
Rating
5
When I first heard about tonka bean I wasn't very impressed with the description. I was thinking that maybe it was one of those overrated notes that everyone raved about, but the saying goes "don't knock something til you try it". I recently ordered a sample of it from Eden Botanicals and was instantly intrigued by it.

I have to agree with the other reviewers here that said that it's smell is smile-inducing, because that is exactly what happened to me when I first opened the vial. It is indeed euphoric in it's own little way. TOTALLY unexpected.

I also agree completely with the descriptions of its aroma. It is indeed a cherry almond note with caramelic facets and a rich powdery texture. This note would add a plush sophisticated texture to the base of a fragrance. Another note that has this effect is peru balsam, but tonka bean more so (at least to my nose). If the aroma of tonka bean was a color, it would definitely be gold.

I now see what the hype was about with this one. Two thumbs up!
(Posted on 5/2/2015)
Better Than Almonds! Review by
Rating
5
I think tonka is a great alternative to almond; it's close enough, but it's almonds with sweet grass, caramel, and a bite of...cedar or cinnamon bark. EB's is the best! I love this oil.
(Posted on 10/11/2014)
Euphoric Review by
Rating
5
I agree with another review in that this is a smile-inducing aroma! I can't get enough of it straight from the bottle, that fresh, golden, sweet summer grass scent is undeniably and absolutely an anti-depressant; 95% of my fragrances are tonka-based due to the happiness/comfort in a bottle properties, and Eden Botanicals offers not only THE BEST and purest tonka, this formulation makes it a breeze to use. I avoid my resins and crystallines (which is a shame, because I love most of them--oak moss, guaiac, vanillin etc), because the difficulty in getting a accurate melt and measure every time, so this is beyond perfect. I just love EB!!
(Posted on 10/11/2014)
summer fields heaven Review by
Rating
5
I use tonka bean in other applications and this oil is true to the material. It is a warm rich blast of sun sweetened cut hay with notes of cherry almond and vanilla. Incredible all by itself. I find this cheers me up and adds the blissed out euphoric note of fields of grass baking on a summer day.
(Posted on 8/2/2014)
Indispensable Review by
Rating
5
Wonderful, complex, sweet smell. Like sun warmed hay, almonds, vanilla and the tiniest hint of cinnamon. Easy to use in the 20% dilution. This is a must have for natural perfumery, I could not do without it.
(Posted on 3/17/2013)