Character
The Story of Teak
Teak is a prized base note in fine perfumery, delivering dry woody depth with subtle leather and smoke nuances. Its extracted essence provides warmth and longevity to woody, chypre, and oriental compositions. The scent evokes polished furniture, warm mahogany, and weathered marine decks. Natural teak fragrance captures the tree's dense heartwood character through careful solvent extraction.
Heritage
While teak holds documented importance in shipbuilding and fine furniture across Asia for centuries, its role in perfumery emerged more gradually as artisans explored increasingly diverse natural materials. The tree's cultural importance across India, Myanmar, Thailand, and Laos gave perfumers incentive to develop extraction methods suited to its dense hardwood. Modern sustainable harvesting practices now influence availability, with many producers working to ensure traceability and responsible sourcing. This shift has made natural teak a more exclusive ingredient in contemporary perfumery.
At a Glance
9
Feature this note
Woody Notes
Olfactive group
Myanmar
Primary source region
Ingredient Details
Solvent extraction / Steam distillation
Heartwood
Did You Know
"Teak trees can grow up to 40 meters tall or more, and their natural resistance to rot and insects comes from high silica content in the wood."
Pyramid Presence
