Siam Benzoin
3 fragrances with this note
Part of accords: Amber, Vanilla, Resinous / Balsamic, Oriental
- Latin name
- Styrax tonkinensis
- Family
- Storax family (Styracaceae)
- Origin
- Laos, Vietnam, Thailand
- Parts used
- resin
- Raw materials
- resinoid, absolute
- Extraction
- solvent extraction
- Olfactory group
- balsamic, amber
- Position in the pyramid
- base
- Synthetic substitutes
- vanillin, benzyl benzoate, vanilla
Siam benzoin is the resin of the Styrax tree growing in Laos and neighbouring countries of Southeast Asia. The name comes from Siam, the old name of Thailand, through which the resin was once exported.
How it smells: warm, sweet and soft: vanilla, caramel, a faintly chocolatey and powdery shade. Siam benzoin sounds gentler and more vanillic than Sumatra benzoin, which is more balsamic and resinous.
The resin is collected from cuts in the bark: it slowly hardens in the air into drops and lumps. Siam benzoin contains a lot of vanillin, so it is often used as a natural basis for vanilla accords.
What it pairs with: with vanilla — creamy sweetness, with frankincense — a soft resinous accord, with rose — a warm powdery rose, with cinnamon — spicy warmth, with sandalwood — a velvety woody base.
Good to know: the term benzoic acid comes from benzoin — it was first obtained from this very resin back in the sixteenth century.
