Elemi is the resin that smells least like a resin. Fresh from the tree it is soft, almost creamy, and smells of lemon, pepper and pine. It is the brightest member of the frankincense family and one of the most useful in blending, precisely because it is not heavy.
Source
Elemi is tapped from Canarium luzonicum, a large tree of the Philippine forests in the Burseraceae, the same family as frankincense, myrrh and copal. Other Canarium species in Indonesia and Africa give related “elemis”. The Philippine product, sometimes called Manila elemi, dominates the trade. The bark is cut and the pale, soft oleoresin collected over weeks; fresh elemi is a soft, whitish-yellow paste that hardens and darkens with age as its essential oil evaporates.
Chemistry and scent
Elemi is an oleoresin: 20–30 % essential oil in a triterpene resin. The oil is mostly limonene, alpha-phellandrene, elemol and elemicin, which explains the profile: citrus (limonene), pepper and dill (phellandrene), and a soft, slightly spicy-balsamic body (elemol, elemicin). The name elemicin comes from the resin.
On the blotter or the heater: bright lemon peel, cracked pepper, a green, dill-like edge, then a light, clean, resinous base. It fades faster than heavier resins because so much of its character is in the volatile oil.
History
Elemi was a varnish resin and a pharmacy resin in Europe from the sixteenth century, used in ointments for wounds and in the varnishes of painters and instrument makers. Its Philippine origin reached Europe via the Manila galleon trade. In the twentieth century it became a perfumery material for its clean citrus-spice note.
Uses
Perfumery. Elemi essential oil and resinoid are used in the top and heart of fresh, spicy and incense-type fragrances. It bridges citrus top notes and resinous bases and pairs well with frankincense, lavender, cardamom and cedar.
Incense. In blends, as a lifting note. It melts and burns fast on charcoal; on an electric heater it releases a pleasant lemon-pine scent for a while and then goes flat. Combine a small amount with frankincense, copal or sandarac for a clean, bright incense.
Skin care and varnish. Elemi appears in a few traditional ointments and in artist varnishes; its former medicinal reputation as a wound dressing is not supported by modern evidence.
Buying and storing
Elemi is sold as a soft paste or, once aged, as a harder pale resin. Fresh, soft, strongly scented material is best. It hardens and loses aroma within a year or two, so buy small quantities and keep it sealed and cool. See How to store resins.
Frequently asked questions
What does elemi smell like?
Fresh and bright: lemon peel, black pepper, pine and a hint of dill or fennel, over a light balsamic base. It is one of the freshest of all resins.
Where does elemi come from?
Mainly the Philippines, from Canarium luzonicum (pili tree), with related species in Indonesia and Africa contributing smaller amounts.
Is elemi good for incense?
Yes, in blends. Alone it burns fast and its freshness disappears quickly. A small amount over frankincense or copal adds a bright, lemony lift.
Sources & further reading
- elemi
- canarium
- oleoresin
- perfumery
