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Benzoin resin is harvested from the bark of deciduous trees, producing a vanilla-scented substance used in perfumes, incense, and cosmetics. It is also used for medicinal purposes, such as treating respiratory and skin disorders.
Benzoin is a resin or balm obtained from the bark of more than 125 species of deciduous trees belonging to the Styracaceae family. Commonly known as benzoin resin or styrax resin, this highly aromatic substance is sometimes referred to as benzoin gum. However, that term is technically incorrect, since a gum is defined as containing a chemical structure consisting of polysaccharide strands. To add to the confusion, benzoin is also the name given to an organic crystalline compound synthesized from benzaldehyde that has a completely different composition. The resin, on the other hand, produces a crystalline compound called benzoic acid.
To harvest this resin, triangular cuts are made in the bark of trees that have been cultivated and allowed to mature for at least six years. This causes the resin that flows inside to pool in and out of these incisions and harden very quickly on contact with air. The quick drying factor, combined with the force of gravitational flow, often results in a teardrop-shaped hard resin knob hanging from the tree. Depending on the tree species, the collected resin ranges in color from pale yellow to dark amber. Once tapped, most trees will continue to produce a resin flow for another three years.
Because of its vanilla fragrance, the resin is important to the perfume industry, as well as the production of many types of incense. It is also a natural fixative and preservative and is used to “fix” essential oils and other aromatic ingredients used to scent potpourri, and to increase the shelf life of many types of cosmetics. The resins used for these purposes are typically obtained from Styrax benzoin and Styrax tonkinensis. The former is found on the island of Sumatra, while the latter is cultivated in Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand. The yields of these trees are known as Sumatran and Siam benzoin, respectively.
A tincture is prepared by soaking the resin in an alcohol base for medicinal purposes. When administered as an inhalant, the tincture is reputed to be an effective natural cold remedy, as well as a treatment for bronchitis and other respiratory disorders. When applied topically, the tincture is considered an excellent home remedy for a variety of skin disorders, including acne, psoriasis, eczema, and rashes. It is also used as an antiseptic to treat cuts, wounds, blisters, and even canker sores and ulcers in the mouth and gums.
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