Coumarin

The warm, hay-like lactone behind the fougère accord, and one of perfumery's oldest synthetic materials. Occurs naturally in tonka bean; restricted by IFRA and declared as an EU allergen.

A benzopyrone lactone (1,2-benzopyrone, C₉H₆O₂) occurring naturally in tonka bean (Dipteryx odorata), sweet clover (Melilotus officinalis), and woodruff (Galium odoratum). First synthesized by William Henry Perkin in 1868 as part of the development of the first synthetic perfumery aroma chemical, a landmark event that opened the modern era of fragrance chemistry. Odor profile: warm, hay-like, sweet, with distinctly dry and powdery nuances. Declared EU allergen above 0.001% in leave-on products.