noun
- A colorless crystalline compound found in plants, used in perfumes, flavorings, and as a pharmaceutical precursor.
Usage: chemistry; also spelled 'cumarin' in some contexts
Examples
- Coumarin is naturally present in vanilla beans and cinnamon.
- The fragrance industry uses coumarin as a base note in many perfumes.
- Coumarin derivatives have been studied for their anticoagulant properties.
- Tonka beans are rich in coumarin, giving them their distinctive vanilla-like aroma.
- Pharmaceutical researchers synthesize coumarin compounds for medical applications.