Tamanu Nut

About Tamanu Nut

Tamanu nut refers to the nutty, green, and earthy aroma associated with tamanu oil, which is pressed from the kernels of Calophyllum inophyllum. In fragrance, the note is not a sweet confectionery nut; it suggests a darker vegetal oiliness.

Scent Profile

The scent is nutty, green, earthy, bitter, resinous, and slightly oily. It can recall crushed walnuts on warm soil, dark plant oil, curry-leaf greenness, and a damp tropical undertone. Compared with almond, tamanu is less sweet; compared with hazelnut, it is less toasted and more vegetal.

Use in Perfumery

Perfumers can use tamanu-like effects in nutty, earthy, woody, leather, green, tropical, and amber compositions. It can calm sweet fruit, give flowers a humid soil shadow, or make a base feel darker and more tactile. The note works best when a fragrance needs realism and weight rather than dessert softness.

Did You Know?

Tamanu oil is better known in skincare than in fine fragrance, but its natural smell is distinctive. The aromatic interest lies in its green, earthy, robust nut character. Used as an idea in perfume, it can make tropical compositions feel less glossy and more grounded.