Balsam adds an endearing warmth to ambery accords. Likened to the smooth scent of vanilla, balsam is delightfully sweet—intermingling with facets of spiced cinnamon and deeper, woody nuances. A soft and sensual aromatic cocoon.
Perfumers capture the delightful scent of Peru balsam in one of two ways: its oil is collected via steam distillation, or a resinoid is extracted using volatile solvents. Peru balsam is a thick, dark resin typically brown or reddish in color. The balsam itself derives from the Myroxylon tree, which translates in Greek to “fragrant wood,” and is mostly harvested in Columbia, despite its namesake. The decadently thick resin is collected by first cutting incisions into the trees’ bark. Balsam has a semi-liquid consistency which solidifies when exposed to air and eventually becomes brittle.
Colombia, Peru
