Coumarin (inci)

Coumarin is a substance widely found in nature, readily soluble in ethanol, ether and essential oils, but less soluble in water (coumarin from the Spanish "cumarú = tonka bean tree", a tree native to Guyana (Coumaruona odorata), which causes the aromatic scent of numerous plants (e.g. woodruff, sweet clover, dates, etc.). Especially rich in coumarin are the seeds of the tonka bean (the fruits have a coumarin content of about 2 to 3%) as well as cinnamon.

Coumarin was first isolated in 1813 by the German chemist A. Vogel, who was able to extract the substance from the seeds of the tonka tree. For further information on coumarin see below coumarin.