In short: tonka bean smells like a mix of vanilla, almond, sweet cherry and warm, freshly cut hay, with a hint of tobacco. It is sweet, but drier and more interesting than vanilla alone.
What tonka bean smells like
If vanilla is a cake, tonka is the almond pastry next to it. Most people pick up marzipan or cherry first, then something like sun-dried hay or pipe tobacco underneath. It adds warmth and a slightly gourmand, golden-brown quality to a blend.
Where it comes from
Tonka beans are the wrinkled black seeds of the cumaru tree (Dipteryx odorata), which grows in northern South America, especially Venezuela and Brazil. The beans are dried and often cured in alcohol, which brings out their scent.
The main aroma compound is coumarin, which is also what gives fresh-cut grass and hay their sweet smell. Coumarin was one of the first fragrance molecules ever made in a lab, in 1868. Because large amounts of it can harm the liver, the US has not allowed tonka beans in food since 1954, though chefs in Europe still shave them into desserts. In fragrance it is perfectly common. Our candles use fragrance oils built around the tonka note.
How it is used
Tonka is a base note. It is often used alongside or instead of vanilla to give a blend a warmer, nuttier sweetness, and it is a classic part of the fougère family of fragrances, along with lavender and oakmoss.
What it pairs with
- Vanilla and amber, for deep warmth
- Leather and tobacco, for a cozy study or tavern
- Lavender, for a classic barbershop fougère
- Saffron and spice, for something rich and exotic
Our candles with tonka bean
- Dragonfire Tavern: tonka with leather, oak, amber, saffron and smoke.
- Thieves Guild: tonka and saffron with blackberry, black currant and amber.
- Chapel Sanctuary: tonka with frankincense, oud, sandalwood and amber.
Common questions
Is tonka bean the same as vanilla? No. They overlap, but tonka is nuttier and drier, with almond, cherry and hay notes that vanilla doesn't have.
Is it safe to burn a candle with tonka? Yes. The food restriction is about eating large amounts of coumarin, not smelling it.
Explore more notes in our Fragrance Notes A to Z, or browse our Food & Drink candles.