Champaca is a floral note obtained from the golden-orange flowers of Magnolia champaca (formerly Michelia champaca), a tree in the magnolia family native to South and Southeast Asia. It is a white floral with a lush, fruity, tea-like scent that combines apricot, orange blossom, jasmine and a soft, leathery warmth.

What does Champaca smell like?

Champaca is rich and radiant without the heavy indole of jasmine. Its absolute has a ripe apricot and peach sweetness, a tea-like dryness, and a violet and orange blossom facet from ionones and methyl anthranilate, finishing in a warm, slightly animalic, honeyed tone. It is often compared with osmanthus, but champaca is more floral and creamy, while osmanthus is more leathery and fruity. Synthetic champaca accords tend to emphasise the fruity-floral side.

Where Champaca comes from

The tree grows across India, Nepal, Indonesia and Southeast Asia and is planted around temples and gardens for its fragrant flowers. Champaca absolute is produced in small quantities by solvent extraction, mainly in India, and is expensive because the flowers are delicate and yields low. In India the flowers are also distilled into attars.

• Also known as: Champak, Joy perfume tree, Sampige, Golden champa
• Fragrance family: Floral (white floral)
• Type: Natural (synthetic accords also common)
• Main origins: India; also Indonesia and Southeast Asia
• How it's obtained: Solvent extraction to concrete and absolute; attar distillation
• Key aroma molecules: Methyl anthranilate, linalool, beta-ionone, phenylethyl alcohol, indole

Champaca in perfume history

Champaca has sacred associations in Hindu and Buddhist traditions and appears in classical Sanskrit poetry. In India it has long been worn in the hair and offered at shrines. The tree is sometimes called the joy perfume tree because of the long-standing belief, now widely disputed, that it was an ingredient in Jean Patou's Joy.

Champaca in modern perfumery

Champaca has become a favourite of niche perfumers seeking a less familiar floral. It features in some tea and Asian-inspired compositions and often appears as a supporting note in white floral blends. Supply is limited, so it is frequently reinforced with synthetic materials.

How Champaca wears and what it pairs with

Champaca sits in the heart and lasts well, giving warmth and roundness. It pairs with jasmine, osmanthus, sandalwood, tea, apricot, vetiver, ylang-ylang and musk.

Safety and regulation

Champaca absolute contains naturally occurring EU-declarable allergens such as linalool and benzyl benzoate.