Elemi
11 fragrances with this note
Part of accords: Fresh, Resinous / Balsamic, Incense
- Latin name
- Canarium luzonicum
- Family
- Torchwood family (Burseraceae)
- Origin
- the Philippines
- Parts used
- resin from cuts in the bark
- Raw materials
- essential oil, resinoid
- Extraction
- steam distillation of the resin
- Olfactory group
- resinous (fresh)
- Position in the pyramid
- top and heart
- Synthetic substitutes
- limonene, elemol, phellandrene (components of the oil)
Elemi is the resin of a large tropical tree from the Philippines, a relative of frankincense and myrrh. It is collected from cuts in the trunk: fresh resin is soft and white, and over time it hardens and turns yellow.
How it smells: fresh, lemony and resinous, with shades of dill, pepper and pine. Elemi is a “light frankincense”: it gives resinous depth without heaviness or smoke, adding light to a fragrance.
Perfumers use elemi to brighten resinous and woody compositions: it makes frankincense, myrrh and amber fresher and the citrus opening longer and fuller.
What it pairs with: with frankincense — a fresh, transparent incense, with citrus and pink pepper — a bright resinous opening, with cedar and vetiver — dry woody compositions, with lavender — fresh fougères, with iris — a cool resinous powder.
Good to know: elemi has an edible relative: the seeds of a neighbouring species of the same genus (Canarium ovatum) give pili nuts, a popular delicacy in the Philippines.
Fragrances with Elemi
