Benzoin resin
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Benzoin resin or styrax resin is a balsamic resin obtained from the bark of several species of trees in the genus Styrax. It is used in perfumes, some kinds of incense, and medicine. It principally contains benzoic acid.[1] Commonly called "benzoin", it is called "benzoin resin" here to distinguish it from the crystalline compound benzoin. Benzoin resin does not contain this crystalline compound.
Benzoin is also called gum benzoin or gum benjamin, but "gum" is incorrect as benzoin is not a water-soluble polysaccharide.
Its name probably came via Italian from Arabic lubān jāwī = "frankincense from Java", because it was brought from Indonesia.
Gum benzoin is a major component of the type of church incense used in Russia and some other Orthodox Christian societies.
Benzoin is often used in combination of other essential oils to slow their dispersion into the air.
[edit] References
- Pastrorova I, de Koster CG, Boom JJ (1997). "Analytic Study of Free and Ester Bound Benzoic and Cinnamic Acids of Gum Benzoin Resins by GC-MS HPLC-frit FAB-MS". Phytochem Anal (8): 63-73.
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