Suppose you have ever caught a whiff of perfume that felt warm, comforting, energetic, or even sweet. In that case, there is a high possibility you have encountered a special ingredient called “coumarin”—widely used in perfumes back in the day. Still, the thing is, recently, due to its side effects, its usage in perfumes is limited. In that case, it’s hard to come in contact with any of the ingredients.
Coumarin, which is derived from sources such as tonka beans, among other plants, is one of the reasons why fragrances mostly have that rich scent that lingers longer than expected after being sprayed. Apart from perfumes, it is also used in food, not like we know, but through cinnamon.
But the question is what truly is coumarin, that is, its features, and what perfumes have coumarin in them. Hence, in this article, Luxeperf and its team will identify the top 4 perfumes you can likely find coumarin in and how best to use them.
What is Coumarin All About?
Coumarin is an organic substance that was discovered in 1820 by A. Vogel of Munich, as he transmits it from tonka beans. During the time of his discovery, he initially mistook it for benzoic acid. Coumarin has other scientific names, such as coumarinic anhydride, tonka bean camphor, and much more.
This organic compound has a sweet scent, distinctive and often likened to freshly cut hay or sweet almonds, and it belongs to the benzopyrone family. Apart from tonka beans, coumarin is also found in other natural plants such as lavender, cinnamon, peppermint, strawberries, and many more with the help of science.
Interestingly, coumarin is not only used in perfumes but has also been traditionally used in medicine for its anticoagulant properties, although not in all cases. It is also used as a pharmaceutical for the treatment of high-protein lymphedema.
Furthermore, in 1882, perfumers started using coumarin for their products, and its first use was an indispensable part of the fougère genre of perfume used in Houbigant’s Fougère Royale.
Additionally, coumarin is typically used as a base note by perfumers in perfumes. This helps the smells of the perfume last longer after the initial spritz, bringing a creamy, sweet, and sometimes powdery undertone to perfumes, making them feel luxurious and comforting.
Is Coumarin Safe to Use in Perfumes?
Yes, coumarin is safe to use in perfume, but when it comes to consumption, the use of coumarin is risky to the liver of human beings. Coumarin that’s not isolated, like the ones in perfumes, is not dangerous to human health except when isolated; for instance, cinnamon has coumarin in it.
According to the IFRA, coumarin in fragrances/perfumes has side effects such as skin irritation or allergic reactions. For that, they are regulated and have been banned in food in the United States since 1954.
The IFRA outlines some safety standards for perfumers. According to them, the usage of coumarin in perfumes depends on the product category. For example, the maximum concentration of coumarin according to IFRA is 1.6% for perfumes, 0.13% for deodorants, and 0.8% for hand cream.
To sum it up, perfumes with a high concentration of coumarin that is not in line with the IFRA regulations are not recommended for products that come in direct contact with the skin, as it could lead to irritation or allergic reactions.
In that case, if you are to buy a perfume with coumarin in it, try checking for the concentration of coumarin. If it’s in line with the IFRA, then you can go for it. Additionally, it is a good idea if you can test it on a small area of your skin to see how your body would react.
Top Perfumes That Have Coumarin In Them
After various searches through our catalogue, here are various perfumes for both men and women that have coumarin in them. Note, for most perfumes, you won’t see the ingredient as coumarin but tonka beans, which coumarin is isolated from.
1. Angel By Mugler
The first perfume on our list is Angel, launched in 1992 by the perfume brand Mugler. Angel is an oriental vanilla fragrance made especially for women and was crafted by two renowned perfumers, Olivier Cresp and Yves de Chirin. The Angel Mugler perfume isn’t just a perfume. It is a perfume that earned its place in the FiFi Award Hall of Fame in 2007.
Actually, among the ingredients used in making this perfume, coumarin was not named, but due to how it was discovered from tonka beans, which is also among the ingredients listed, there is a high probability that Angel by Mugler has coumarin in it, making it to have those rich, sweet, and warm characteristics you saw. Chances are that the coumarin may be moderate for the skin, but first, you should test for any effects on a small area of your skin.
Angel opens with a tantalizing mix of top notes including cotton candy, coconut, cassis, melon, jasmine, bergamot, pineapple, and mandarin orange. Then it is followed by an indulgent heart of honey, red berries, blackberry, plum, apricot, peach, jasmine, nutmeg, caraway, orchid, rose, and lily-of-the-valley. Lastly settles into a luxurious base of patchouli, chocolate, caramel, vanilla, tonka bean, amber, musk, and sandalwood.
2. Dior Addicts
The next perfume on our list that has coumarin is Dior Addicts, one of the astounding perfumes produced by Dior, which is an oriental floral fragrance made especially for women just like the Angel by Mugler perfume to feel like a reborn queen. Dior Addicts was initially launched in 2002 by Dior and was created by the renowned perfumers Thierry Wasser and Christian Dussoulier.
The creator of this Eau De Parfum did a great job when it came to having a perfume with an irresistible scent. But here we are only interested in perfumes with coumarin in them, and for Dior Addict, it also has tonka beans as one of its ingredients, which means that there are higher chances that coumarin is also added to it.
For the notes, the creators used blackberry, mandarin leaf, and silk tree blossom for the opening note; for the middle note, they used jasmine, orange blossom, night-blooming cereus, and rose; then ending it with vanilla, tonka beans, and Mysore sandalwood.
3. Jean Paul Gaultier Le Male
The past two perfumes we listed in this article are for women; now let’s talk about perfumes for men, which brings us to Le Male, a perfume that was launched in 1995 by Jean Paul Gaultier. The Oriental Fougere fragrance was created uniquely for men by the renowned perfumer Francis Kurkdjian the same year it was launched.
Le Male isn’t just like other perfumes; well, we have said that before, but for men, this perfume hits differently when they come in contact with the other gender. In terms of coumarin, it can’t be for sure that the perfume has coumarin in it, but because tonka beans and cinnamon were added to the ingredient, we can say for sure that it’s in.
The opening of Le Male by Jean Paul Gaultier hits differently with lavender, mint, cardamom, bergamot, and artemisia, followed by ingredients such as cinnamon, orange blossom, and caraway for the middle note. And the base notes, you can find ingredients like vanilla, tonka bean, amber, sandalwood, and cedar, which makes it have that sweet, incredible scent that can’t be easily gotten over.
4. Bianco Latte Giardini Di Toscana
Another perfume that has coumarin in it is the Bianco Latte by the brand Giardini Di Toscana, an oriental vanilla fragrance that is perfect for both genders. The perfume isn’t just like other perfumes we listed earlier in this article because, for this one, it has coumarin in its middle note. The creator behind the magnificent perfume is none other than the renowned perfumer Silvia Martinelli.
The opening note of Bianco Latte is caramel, giving that deep, rich scent leading it to the heart, which is the ingredient we are talking about: coumarin. It’s supposed to be the base note, but the creator genuinely knows why he makes it such; for the base note, it goes with vanilla and white musk, which brings it that lovely smell that is pleasant for both genders.
Final Thoughts
In summary, finding a perfume with coumarin in it should not be a problem; in short, it isn’t, but what is more important is that they are in line with the IFRA regulation of using coumarin. Perfumes with coumarin are great, though; they have this long-lasting, energetic scent that brings out the confidence of an individual.
Not only that, it also brings out that sensual sensation, especially when it comes to women. So if you are looking for perfumes with coumarin, we have listed a few in this article that look great and fit both genders.
Although a few of them might not have coumarin in them, with the availability of ingredients like tonka beans, there is a higher chance that coumarin is in them. Additionally, don’t forget to test a small area of your skin for any side effects before fully using it.