Benzoin in Perfumery: Vanillic Balsam and Cosy Amber
Benzoin is a natural balsamic resin, sourced primarily from Styrax trees , highly valued for its sweet, vanilla-like aroma and various medicinal properties. Widely used across perfumes, incense, and modern skincare, it serves as an essential fixative in fragrances and a soothing agent for dry or cracked skin. It is also frequently utilised in medical tinctures, such as Friar’s Balsam, where it helps to aid bandage adhesion and protect the skin. Benzoin is one of those perfume ingredients that feels like a soft scarf in cold weather. It gives off that gentle vanilla warmth, with a smooth, almost golden aroma that works particularly well when nights are long and chilly. You will often find it in amber-style perfumes where it adds a comforting depth. This is not a new discovery. Benzoin has been part of fragrances and incense for centuries. It brings something cosy and familiar, almost like something you have smelled before but cannot quite place. When used in modern perfumes, it ties ev...
