Tonka? Sweeeet!!

What is tonka?

The tall camaru tree (Dipteryx odorata) belongs to the legume family (Fabaceae) and grows in Costa Rica, Brazil and Peru. It bears fruits that contain a single seed, oblong and smooth, called the tonka bean.

Why do we use tonka in our products?

• Tonka has a sweet, comforting aroma that enriches vanilla fragrances.
• It’s very soothing to the skin and mind.
  
  

Did you know?

Some say that tonka smells of vanilla, but the bean has its own perfume. It is sweet but also fruity, reminiscent of cherries and bitter almonds, and has notes of hay. This complex scent is mainly due to coumarin, an aromatic compound that naturally occurs in tonka in such quantities that it creates a white crystallised coating around the bean when it dries.

Where does Lush get tonka from?

Lush purchases tonka beans directly from Kayapo communities of the Amazon rainforest in Brazil. They pick up fallen fruits and break them one by one with a hammer to release the precious beans. Dried in the sun and gathered in big bags, they are then sent to France, where they are transformed into an absolute.

To find out more about tonka and other fragrant plants we love to use, you can always browse your Lush product’s list of ingredients and click on the ones you are interested in. This should take you to a page full of details!