Voacanga foetida grows as a tree up to 20 metres (70 ft) high, with a trunk diameter of up to 40 centimetres (16 in).

The bark is grey, whitish brown or grey-brown.

The specific epithet foetida is from the Latin meaning 'evil-smelling'.

Habitat is forest from sea-level to 600 metres (2,000 ft) altitude.

[2] V. foetida is found in Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines.