Materials
Storax (styrax balsam)
Not benzoin, despite the shared word styrax: the balsam of sweetgum trees, leathery and spicy with a hyacinth facet. A classic fixative of old formulae, now IFRA-limited for its cinnamates.
| Type | balsam |
|---|---|
| Form | Grey-brown viscous semi-liquid; purified balsam darker and thicker |
| Extracts | Purified balsam, resinoid, absolute. |
| Regulation | Restricted (cinnamates). |
Scent facets
- leathery
- spicy
- floral (hyacinth)
- smoky
- balsamic
Botanical source
Origins
Main constituents
Uses
- leather, chypre and oriental bases
- compound benzoin tincture
- ancient incense (stacte)