Quasssin (inci)

Quassin, a diterpene lactone from the wood of Quassia amara, the Surinam bitterwood tree (Quassia wood tree), a plant from the bitter ash family native to Guyana, Panama, Colombia and Argentina. Quassia is used for its insecticidal properties against insects. Furthermore, quassia is used as amarum for flavouring spirits.

Quassine is one of the most bitter known substances with a bitter value of 13,000,000, i.e. a dilution of 1/ 13 million parts of liquid can still be perceived as bitter.

Quassine is also used as a denaturant in cosmetic preparations.