RESINS AND BALMS
Balms and resins are among the raw materials used in the composition of perfumes. They are often involved in fragrances of the oriental or amber family. These materials complement the vanilla and bring a note of mystery to the fragrance. Balsams and resins are also called “balsamic notes”. The most used in perfumery are myrrh, frankincense, styrax, benzoin, balsam of Peru, and balsam of Copahu.
Balsamic notes, namely resins and balsams, are among the oldest ingredients, and are in a way the keystone of oriental accords. Ingredients that have a sweet balsamic smell include vanilla, cistus labdanum, benzoin, balsam of Peru and balsam of Tolu (similar to balsam of Peru but slightly cooler and sweeter). (We could also include incense or fir balsam, although olfactorily these resins offer more woody tones) In general, resins or balms have a smell that is sweet, balmy, sensual, animal or slightly medicinal. These are often enveloping, tenacious, even heady notes. They also prove to be very good fixers within a composition, and go very well with floral notes in the heart, we will then speak of oriental florals. Balsamic resins also include opoponax, frankincense, myrrh, elemi, and styrax. These raw materials have a deeper, tenacious fragrance, with spicy, woody and even leathery nuances. Coming themselves from the bark of trees under the reformation of a crystallized resin, they blend well with woody and amber scents.
