Acajou wood smells like walking into a warm, polished furniture showroom—think aged mahogany mixed with a subtle sweetness reminiscent of caramel and dried fruit. It's woody without being harsh, possessing an almost resinous warmth that evokes honeyed amber and a whisper of vanilla. Imagine the interior of an antique wooden chest that's been storing precious things for decades: rich, dark, and deeply comforting. There's a slight spice lurking beneath—almost like cinnamon bark—that prevents it from becoming cloying.
"Acajou" comes from the French word for mahogany, though the fragrance note doesn't derive solely from mahogany trees. Historically, it references tropical hardwoods from Central and South America, particularly acajou (cashew family). Today, most acajou notes in perfumery are synthetic creations, developed in laboratories to capture that warm, honeyed-wood character without harvesting endangered wood species. The synthetic versions—often created through chemical synthesis rather than distillation—offer perfumers precise control whilst being environmentally responsible.
Acajou wood functions as a warm, slightly sweet woody base note that adds depth and longevity to compositions. Perfumers use it to create luminous, sophisticated fragrances rather than austere woodiness. It bridges the gap between pure woody notes and warm oriental bases, adding a golden quality without being overtly sweet.
Contemporary compositions
Surprising harmonies