Siamese benzoin loose resin – Styrax tonkinensis

Harvested by incision on the tree trunk, this resin comes in the form of soft, light brown to golden yellow pieces, highly aromatic. Siamese benzoin is distinguished by its richness in vanillin and its olfactory sweetness, ideal for therapeutic incense, healing balms or natural perfume compositions.

Description

Soft to semi-solid resin, yellowish-brown to caramel, sticky to the touch. Very sweet, vanilla, and balsamic odor. Comes in irregular fragments or molded blocks.

Nomenclature

• Common names: Siamese benzoin, benzoin resin, styrax
• Latin name: Styrax tonkinensis
• Family: Styracaceae
• Part used: Resin
• Form: Loose
• Origin: Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia
• English name: Siam benzoin
• German name: Siambenzoe
• Name in Spanish: Benjuí de Siam
• Name in Italian: Benzoino del Siam
• Name in Arabic: لبان سيام (Lubān Siyām)

Main virtues

Used to soothe the mood, support concentration, or delicately scent body care products. A precious ingredient in restorative balms and oriental perfumes.

Main constituents

Benzoic acid, vanillin, cinnamates, resinoids, benzyl alcohol.

Use and dosage

• Incense: burned alone or in a mixture, on charcoal or in a diffuser.
• Cosmetic: used as a tincture or incorporated into aromatic balms.
• Fragrance: As a sweet and fixative base note.

Precautions, side effects and contraindications

• Product reserved for authorized professionals.
• May be allergenic. Perform a skin test before using cosmetics.
• Do not ingest. Avoid contact with mucous membranes.

History and origin

Siamese benzoin has been known since ancient times for its fragrant and purifying qualities. Used in Buddhist temples, it is also incorporated into ointments used in traditional Asian medicines. Its sweet and deep aroma makes it a favorite ally of master perfumers.

Miscellaneous information

• Storage: dry, at moderate temperature, in an airtight container.
• Packaging: loose pieces, kraft bag, airtight box.
• Appearance: Soft, light brown to golden yellow fragments.
• Smell: very sweet, vanilla, balsamic.

Sources and references

• Pl@ntUse – https://uses.plantnet-project.org
• Corpus of incense and resins from Southeast Asia
• Traditional Laotian and Vietnamese Pharmacopoeia
• European regulatory references

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