Character
The Story of Kingwood
Kingwood is a rare Brazilian hardwood prized in fine perfumery for its warm, sweet-woody aroma with subtle violet and rose nuances. This endangered species yields an oil that brings rare depth and sophistication to prestigious fragrance compositions.
Heritage
Kingwood derives from the Dalbergia cearensis tree, native to the cerrado regions of northeastern Brazil. Portuguese colonial traders first recognized its extraordinary beauty in the 17th century, exporting the vividly streaked purple-brown heartwood to Europe for fine furniture, religious carvings, and aristocratic inlays. The wood became a status symbol among European nobility, adorning the cabinets of French and English collectors. Its use in perfumery emerged much later, as 20th-century perfumers began exploring the wood's warm, complex aromatic profile. Today, Brazilian environmental regulations restrict harvesting, making genuine kingwood oil increasingly scarce.
At a Glance
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Feature this note
Woody Notes
Olfactive group
Brazil
Primary source region
Ingredient Details
Steam distillation
Heartwood chips and sawdust
Did You Know
"A single Kingwood tree can take over 100 years to reach maturity, making its essential oil one of the rarest commodities in modern perfumery."
