Aniba rosaeodora wood was shown to contain (-)-rubranine. An optically inactive form of this citrylidenechalcone was previously considered to be an artifact of extraction. The constitution of rubranine was confirmed by pyrolysis and syntheses, involving previously reported pyridine-catalysed condensation of pinocembrin and citral, whereby novel intermediates were prepared, and the acid-catalysed condensation of pinocembrin with geraniol followed by oxidation.