Sweet and aromatic on the opening, with a warm spice quality that is more complex than a simple sweetness. The herbaceous facet is important and gives it a distinctive character somewhere between lavender, hay, and a faint nuttiness. At higher concentrations a tobacco-like quality and a slight coconut warmth become detectable; in extreme dilution it reads as pure dry hay. The vanilla base note is soft and supports rather than dominates. It has a good odour life of 85 hours and a moderate ROI of 120, making it easy to work with across a range of concentrations without needing micro-dosing.

Coumarin works as a warm base sweetener, hay-type modifier, fixative, and structural ingredient across a wide range of fragrance families. Best suited to fine fragrance, pot pourri, incense, and dry detergent applications; not recommended for soap, rinse-off hair care, or fabric softener where it shows stability problems.

Recommended concentration: 0.08% minimum, 0.8% average, up to 6.7% maximum in a finished compound.

Particularly effective in:

Fougere structures where coumarin is a foundational ingredient alongside lavender and oakmoss
Oriental and amber bases for sweetness and warmth
Lavender and aromatic compositions as a classic hay-lavender modifier
New mown hay accords
Citrus and herbal compositions as a warm, anchoring base note
Pot pourri and incense (rated excellent for both)

Blends well with:

Herbs: lavender, lavandin, rosemary, clary sage
Oakmoss and earthy notes
Tonka bean and benzoin for richer balsamic depth
Citrus: bergamot, lemon
Musks and ambers as a base complement
Vanillin for additional sweetness

Material Type: Aroma chemical (synthetic)
Chemical Name: 2H-1-Benzopyran-2-one; 1,2-Benzopyrone
CAS Number: 91-64-5
Molecular Formula: C₉H₆O₂
Melting Point: 68°C (solid at room temperature)
Boiling Point: 161°C
Flash Point: 93°C
Odour Profile: Sweet, warm, herbaceous, hay-like; spicy and slightly nutty at higher concentrations; tobacco warmth; soft vanilla base
Appearance: White translucent platelets / crystals
Solubility: Soluble in alcohol and warm oils; dissolve by gentle warming before use
Regulatory Status: SDS documentation can be supplied upon request where available.

For external use only. Do not ingest
Solid at room temperature; warm gently in a water bath to liquefy before weighing or blending
Flash point 93°C; keep away from heat sources and open flames
Avoid contact with eyes and skin in undiluted form
Not recommended for soap, hair care, rinse-off personal care, or fabric softener applications
Store tightly sealed in a cool, dark place away from direct sunlight; protect from moisture
Shelf life: 5+ years when stored correctly in sealed packaging