Benzoin Essence
Description
BENZOIN (Styrax benzoin)
Family: Styracaceae (ebony)
Source: The Essential oil is obtained from : Bark of tree
Fragrance: Heavy, sweet, like vanilla.
Volatility: Base note
General description and habitat:
The tree is mainly grown in and around Malaysia; height about 20 meters; leaves are oval and hairy; flowers are fleshy, yellow-green.
Principal constituents:
Benzoic acid, cinnamic acid, vanillin, coniferyl benzoate, benzoic acid, phenylethylene, and phenylpropylic alcohol.
History
History and folk use:
The tree originated from Laos and Vietnam. The ancient Greeks called it ‘Silphion’ and the Romans, ‘Laserpitium’. Use powdered resin in pot-pourris. Introduced to Europe by Barboza, the Portugese navigator, it was first known in English as benjoin (from sixteenth century records). Nostradamus wrote about benzoin in 1556. The French used to use it for inhalations and many medicines have it for a base. In Britain friar’s balsam is a tincture of benzoin compound used for wounds and inhaling.
Properties & Uses
General properties: Relaxing, sedative, warming.
Primary Uses:
| Anxiety, | Arthritis, |
| Catarrh, | Chest Infections, |
| Eczema, | Grief, |
| Laryngitis, | Psoriasis, |
| Rheumatism, | Sore Throat, |
| Stress, | Wounds & Sores, |
Secondary Uses:
| Anorexia, | Asthma, |
| Bladder Infections | Bronchitis, |
| Chapped Skin, | Colds, |
| Comfort, | Coughs, |
| Cystitis, | Dermatitis, |
| Exhaustion, | Inflamed Skin, |
| 'Flu, | Poor Circulation, |
| Sores, | Tonsillitis, |
Contraindications
Not to be taken internally; possibility of allergic reactions so do skin test first.
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