--- title: Coumarin | ECSA Chemicals description: Discover the uses and production methods of coumarin, its natural sources, and regulations on its use in food products. | ECSA Chemicals image: https://blog.ecsa-chemicals.ch/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Progetto-senza-titolo-47-1200x675.png --- ### Select your language [Deutsch](https://blog.ecsa-chemicals.ch/de/cumarin)  |  [Français](https://blog.ecsa-chemicals.ch/fr/coumarine)  |  [Italiano](https://blog.ecsa-chemicals.ch/it/cumarina) [![ecsa chemicals](https://blog.ecsa-chemicals.ch/hubfs/ECSA_Chemicals_April2025/Images/logo.svg) ![ecsa chemicals](https://blog.ecsa-chemicals.ch/hubfs/ECSA_Chemicals_April2025/Images/logo-sticky.svg)](https://ecsa-chemicals.ch/) - [Industrial Chemicals](https://ecsa-chemicals.ch/en/industrial-chemicals/) - [Pharma & Nutrition](https://ecsa-chemicals.ch/en/pharma-nutrition/) - [Flavours & Fragrances](https://ecsa-chemicals.ch/en/flavours-fragrances/) - [Cosmetics & Detergents](https://ecsa-chemicals.ch/en/cosmetics-detergents/) - [Content Hub](https://blog-chemicals.ecsa.ch/en/ecsa-chemicals) - [About us](https://ecsa-chemicals.ch/en/about-us/) En - En - Products - [Industrial Chemicals](https://ecsa-chemicals.ch/en/industrial-chemicals/) - [Pharma & Nutrition](https://ecsa-chemicals.ch/en/pharma-nutrition/) - [Flavours & Fragrances](https://ecsa-chemicals.ch/en/flavours-fragrances/) - [Cosmetics & Detergents](https://ecsa-chemicals.ch/en/cosmetics-detergents/) - [Content Hub](https://blog-chemicals.ecsa.ch/en/ecsa-chemicals) - About us - [ECSA world](https://ecsa-chemicals.ch/en/about-us/the-ecsa-world/) - [Certifications & Quality](https://ecsa-chemicals.ch/en/about-us/quality-and-certifications/) - [Security & environment](https://ecsa-chemicals.ch/en/about-us/safety-and-the-environment/) - [Infrastuctures logistics & services](https://ecsa-chemicals.ch/en/about-us/infrastructure-logistics-and-services/) - [Career](https://ecsa-chemicals.ch/en/about-us/career/) - [We Are ECSA](https://ecsa-chemicals.ch/en/about-us/we-are-ecsa/) - [Catalogs](https://ecsa-chemicals.ch/en/catalogues/) Follow us This is a search field with an auto-suggest feature attached. Search - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. # Coumarin - [Home](https://ecsa-chemicals.ch/en/) - [Content Hub - Ecsa chemicals](https://blog.ecsa-chemicals.ch/en) - Coumarin 20 June 2022 **[Coumarin](https://ecsa-chemicals.ch/en/product/mp-017947-2/)** is a naturally occurring aromatic chemical from the group of benzopyrones with a pleasant spicy, sweet, hay-like note. The name derives from the Tupian languages spoken in Brazil and Guyana. The word “Cumarù” means “Tonka bean tree”. The Tonka bean contains a large amount of natural **[coumarin](https://ecsa-chemicals.ch/prodotto/mp-017947/)**. It is found in many plants, where it may serve as a chemical defense against predators.  Although coumarin has a pleasant, sweet odour, animals tend to avoid it since it has a bitter taste. [![Chemical formula of coumarin over white flowers on a green background.](https://blog.ecsa-chemicals.ch/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Contenuto-MailChimp-1200x1200-7-1200x1200-3.png?width=300&height=300&name=Contenuto-MailChimp-1200x1200-7-1200x1200-3.png)](https://ecsa-chemicals.ch/en/product/mp-017947/)Synthetic **[coumarin](https://ecsa-chemicals.ch/en/product/mp-017947-2/)**, a colourless crystalline solid, is produced from salicylaldehyde and acetic anhydride (Perkin’s synthesis). Starting raw material to produce salicylaldehyde is phenol. By the addition of Formaldehyde to phenol under controlled, catalytic conditions it is possible to obtain ortho-Hydroxymethylphenol which can be then oxidised to salicylaldehyde. **[Coumarin](https://ecsa-chemicals.ch/en/product/mp-017947-2/)** is mainly used as a fragrance in perfumery. In the EU according to Regulation (EC) 1334/2008 **[coumarin](https://ecsa-chemicals.ch/en/product/mp-017947-2/)** cannot be used as flavour. Ingested in large quantities causes severe headaches, vomiting, dizziness, and drowsiness. If **[coumarin](https://ecsa-chemicals.ch/en/product/mp-017947-2/)** occurs naturally in flavourings or food ingredients with flavouring properties, certain maximum levels in the food must not be exceeded. Maximum amounts are between 5 mg/kg for dessert and 50mg/kg for traditional and/or seasonal bakery products containing a reference to cinnamon in the labeling. Due to the rising cost of raw materials, **[coumarin](https://ecsa-chemicals.ch/en/product/mp-017947-2/)** prices have reached unprecedented levels in the first half of 2022, up to 13.5 USD/kg just before the Chinese New Year. Afterward, the price has only slightly softened to around 12.5-12.8 USD/kg for 1 FCL. *Interested?* *Our experts are at your disposal to help to choose the right product* [Ask for a quote](https://ecsa-chemicals.ch/en/product/mp-017947/)  [Contact us](https://ecsa-chemicals.ch/en/contacts/) --- #### Share: - [Follow us on Facebook](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://blog.ecsa-chemicals.ch/en/coumarin) - [Follow us on Twitter](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://blog.ecsa-chemicals.ch/en/coumarin&text=Coumarin) - [Follow us on Linkedin](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://blog.ecsa-chemicals.ch/en/coumarin) - [Follow us on Pinterest](http://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://blog.ecsa-chemicals.ch/en/coumarin&text=Coumarindescription=Coumarin%20is%20a%20naturally%20occurring%20aromatic%20chemical%20from%20the%20group%20of%20benzopyrones%20with%20a%20pleasant%20spicy,%20sweet,%20hay-like%20note.%20The%20name%20derives%20from%20the[...]&media=https://27166650.fs1.hubspotusercontent-eu1.net/hubfs/27166650/Imported_Blog_Media/Progetto-senza-titolo-47-1200x675.png) #### [Sulphur dioxide in winemaking Previous post](https://blog.ecsa-chemicals.ch/en/sulphur-dioxide-in-winemaking) #### [Spiga Nord and ECSA Next post](https://blog.ecsa-chemicals.ch/en/spiga-nord-and-ecsa) #### You might also be interested in: ### [Methyl Cedryl Ketone: a woody and leathery note](https://blog.ecsa-chemicals.ch/en/methyl-cedryl-ketone-a-woody-and-leathery-note) [Purchase advice](https://blog.ecsa-chemicals.ch/en/tag/purchase-advice) ### [D-L Alpha Tocopheryl Acetate: Antioxidant and Stabilizer for Cosmetic Formulations](https://blog.ecsa-chemicals.ch/en/d-l-alpha-tocopheryl-acetate-antioxidant-and-stabilizer-for-cosmetic-formulations) [Purchase advice](https://blog.ecsa-chemicals.ch/en/tag/purchase-advice) ### [Hydrochloric acid: applications and safety regulations](https://blog.ecsa-chemicals.ch/en/hydrochloric-acid-applications-and-safety-regulations) [Purchase advice](https://blog.ecsa-chemicals.ch/en/tag/purchase-advice) ## Stay connected ### Receive the latest information and news from the chemistry world [![ecsa chemicals](https://blog.ecsa-chemicals.ch/hubfs/ECSA_Chemicals_April2025/Images/logo.svg "ecsa chemicals")](https://ecsa-chemicals.ch/) Social Associations and partners - [RSPO](https://www.rspo.org/) - [AssICC](https://www.assicconline.it/) - [Scienceindustries](https://www.scienceindustries.ch/) - [FECC](https://www.fecc.org/) - [Sedex](https://www.sedex.com/) - [IFEAT](https://ifeat.org/) - [SEPAWA](https://www.sepawa.com/) - [Bio Suisse](https://www.bio-suisse.ch/) - [World Chemical Distributor Directory](https://chemical-distributors.com/) - [EFEO](https://www.efeo.eu/) - [Cosmetica Italia](https://www.cosmeticaitalia.it/) - [Bioagricert](https://www.bioagricert.org/) - [Farma industria](https://www.farmaindustriaticino.ch/) - [Carlo Erba Reagents](https://ecsa-chemicals.ch/en/carlo-erba-reagents/) - [Contact us](https://ecsa-chemicals.ch/en/contact/) - [Catalogs](https://ecsa-chemicals.ch/en/catalogues/) - [Suppliers](https://ecsa-chemicals.ch/en/suppliers/) - [Career](https://ecsa-chemicals.ch/en/about-us/career/) - [We Are ECSA](https://ecsa-chemicals.ch/en/about-us/we-are-ecsa/) 2026 ECSA Group. 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