Benzoin Resin

The Warm, Vanilla-Like Comfort Resin

The latest addition to our range is often thought of as an essential oil but is actually a resin, (Boffin note - resinoid, which means it is extracted from the resin!) However, Benzoin Resin can be used in exactly the same way as an essential and has many wonderful properties.   Because it is sweet and comforting it is widely considered a winter oil but I love it in the Summer too. If you just put one or two drops on your wrists as a perfume, it warms in an almost Hippy Trippy way!  Warm and sensuous.  First sweet then incense like.  In fact, it is sometimes known as the Eastern Frankincense as it was long ago used in religious ceremonies across Asia. Even though Benzoin is warm and sensuous, it is also therapeutic and works brilliantly in aromatherapy blends for achy muscles, respiratory problems and distressed or sore skin.
Benzoin Resin is a thick, sweet-smelling resin collected from trees in the Styrax family, mainly grown in parts of Southeast Asia. Because the pure resin is sticky and difficult to use, we dilute it to 50% in alcohol, making it easier to blend, apply, and enjoy.

Its aroma is warm, rich, sweet, and slightly vanilla-like — often described as comforting and nostalgic.

Benzoin can be used to create a feeling of:

Comfort, warmth, emotional grounding & 
relaxation during stress or overwhelm.
Its cosy aroma makes it popular in evening blends and meditation practices.

Perfumery

Benzoin is a classic base note in natural perfumery.
It helps scents last longer and adds a smooth, sweet depth.

INTERESTING FACT

One of Benzoin’s natural aromatic compounds is vanillin — the same molecule that gives vanilla its recognisable scent. That is why benzoin often smells like warm vanilla dessert even though it comes from tree resin!

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