Benzoin (resin)

Not to be confused with benzoin.

Benzoin resin or styrax resin is a balsamic resin obtained from the bark of several species of trees in the genus Styrax. It is used in perfumes, some kinds of incense, and medicine (see tincture of benzoin). Its principal component is benzoic acid. Commonly called "benzoin", it is called "benzoin resin" here to distinguish it from the crystalline compound benzoin. Benzoin resin does not contain this crystalline compound.

Benzoin is also called gum benzoin or gum benjamin, but "gum" is incorrect as benzoin is not a water-soluble polysaccharide. Its name came via the Italian from the Arabic lubān jāwī (لبان خاوي, "frankincense from Java"), because it was brought from Indonesia. The Catalan traders, who bought lubān jāwī from moorish traders, modified the word by changing a to e and omitting the lu to benjawi. Italians further changed it into benjuì, and in Latin it became ultmately known as benzoë.

Use

Benzoin resin is a common ingredient in incense-making and perfumery because of its vanilla ice-cream aroma and fixative properties. Gum benzoin is a major component of the type of church incense used in Russia and some other Orthodox Christian societies. Most benzoin is used in Arab Gulf countries and India, where it is burned on charcoal as an incense. It is also used in the production of Bakhoor (Arabic بخور - scented wood chips) as well as various mixed resin incense in the Arab countries and the Horn of Africa. Benzoin resin is also used in blended types of Japanese incense, Indian incense, Chinese incense, and Papier d'Arménie as well as incense sticks. When called sambrani or sambraani, it is a popular Indian incense used to scent and treat hair and prevent infections.

There are two types of benzoin resin used in incense and perfumery, benzoin Siam and benzoin Sumatra. Benzoin Siam is obtained from Styrax tonkinensis, found across Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam. Benzoin Sumatra is obtained from Styrax benzoin grown on the island of Sumatra. Both varieties are pathogenic resins, which are exuded from the tree when it is damaged.

In perfumery, benzoin is used as a fixative, slowing the dispersion of essential oils and other fragrance materials into the air.