tonka bean
noun
ton·ka bean ˈtäŋ-kə- 
: the coumarin-containing seed of any of several tropical American leguminous trees (genus Dipteryx, especially D. odorata) that is used in perfumes and as an artificial vanilla flavoring
also : a tree bearing tonka beans
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web The sophisticated scent was mainly floral, with notes of jasmine, tuberose, gardenia, and with a warmer base of tonka bean, jacaranda wood, and sandalwood. 
Abby Dupes, Seventeen, 7 Sep. 2022 Keynotes of frosted grapefruit, blood mandarin, peppermint, rose absolute, musk, cinnamon bark, blond leather, tonka bean, patchouli, white wood, and amber ketal defy aromatic expectations. Grooming Playbook, The Salt Lake Tribune, 20 May 2022 The Derek Lam 10 Crosby Looking Glass Eau de Parfum is a delicate concoction of warmth and floral notes, thanks to its key notes of magnolias and tonka bean, and will be less than $50 over the holiday weekend. Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 27 May 2022 Another one from the master perfumer Francis Kurkdjian, Le Male is an exquisitely warm blend of lavender, cardamom, bergamot, vanilla, tonka bean, amber, woods, and spices. The Salt Lake Tribune, 18 May 2022 The warm, inviting scent combines vanilla, Australian sandalwood, tonka bean, pear and coconut. Celia Shatzman, Forbes, 13 May 2022 Tobacco Vanille Eau contains keynotes of tobacco leaf, vanilla, and ginger amplified by tonka bean, dry fruit accords, and sweet wood sap to create a fragrance that is opulent, warm, and befit for a gentleman’s club of the highest honor. Grooming Playbook, The Salt Lake Tribune, 20 May 2022 The fresh aromas of lavender, mint, orange blossom, and cinnamon gradually fuse with smooth notes of cardamom, bergamot, artemisia, and caraway, which then artfully make way for tantalising hints of vanilla, tonka bean, amber, sandalwood and cedar. Grooming Playbook, The Salt Lake Tribune, 11 May 2022 White leather, tobacco, and patchouli envelop the cannabis leaf note to create a super cozy and ever-so-slightly sweet (thanks to the tonka bean base) take on the scent that is truly divine. Jihan Forbes, Allure, 20 Apr. 2022 See More
Abby Dupes, Seventeen, 7 Sep. 2022 Keynotes of frosted grapefruit, blood mandarin, peppermint, rose absolute, musk, cinnamon bark, blond leather, tonka bean, patchouli, white wood, and amber ketal defy aromatic expectations. Grooming Playbook, The Salt Lake Tribune, 20 May 2022 The Derek Lam 10 Crosby Looking Glass Eau de Parfum is a delicate concoction of warmth and floral notes, thanks to its key notes of magnolias and tonka bean, and will be less than $50 over the holiday weekend. Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 27 May 2022 Another one from the master perfumer Francis Kurkdjian, Le Male is an exquisitely warm blend of lavender, cardamom, bergamot, vanilla, tonka bean, amber, woods, and spices. The Salt Lake Tribune, 18 May 2022 The warm, inviting scent combines vanilla, Australian sandalwood, tonka bean, pear and coconut. Celia Shatzman, Forbes, 13 May 2022 Tobacco Vanille Eau contains keynotes of tobacco leaf, vanilla, and ginger amplified by tonka bean, dry fruit accords, and sweet wood sap to create a fragrance that is opulent, warm, and befit for a gentleman’s club of the highest honor. Grooming Playbook, The Salt Lake Tribune, 20 May 2022 The fresh aromas of lavender, mint, orange blossom, and cinnamon gradually fuse with smooth notes of cardamom, bergamot, artemisia, and caraway, which then artfully make way for tantalising hints of vanilla, tonka bean, amber, sandalwood and cedar. Grooming Playbook, The Salt Lake Tribune, 11 May 2022 White leather, tobacco, and patchouli envelop the cannabis leaf note to create a super cozy and ever-so-slightly sweet (thanks to the tonka bean base) take on the scent that is truly divine. Jihan Forbes, Allure, 20 Apr. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Dutch tonka(-boon) & Portuguese (fava-)tonca, perhaps of Cariban origin
First Known Use
1796, in the meaning defined above
Medical Definition
tonka bean
noun
ton·ka bean ˈtäŋ-kə-
: the seed of any of several leguminous trees of the genus Dipteryx that contains coumarin and is used in perfumes and as a flavoring
also : a tree bearing tonka beans