Benzoin Sumatra (Styrax benzoin)

*This oil is obtained from the Styrax Benzoin tree and is useful for

• Arthritis
• Bronchitis
• Chapped Skin
• Coughing
• Laryngitis

Benzoin is produced using a process called “Tapping” to harvest the sap from the Styrax Benzoin tree. Tapping involves making deep incisions in the trunk of the tree from which the grayish-coloured sap exudes.  The resinous lumps are left to become hard and brittle, then they are cleaned and a processed using solvent to extract and produce the oil. This oil is thick and resinous.

This resin is viscous (thick) and too hard to work with as you would an essential oil.  At this stage a dilutant can be added to make the resin easier to use and work with.  At this stage the oil is technically classed as a resinoid rather than an essential oil.

The resin is obtained from the tree by a process called Tapping.  The Tapping process involves cutting deep incisions into the trunk of the tree from which the grayish-colored sap exudes.  This resin is left until it hardens and becomes brittle. The oil is then extracted from the resin by means of a solvent process the result of this is known as ‘resinoid’ rather than essential oil.  At this stage, the resinoid is still rather viscous (thick) to work with. A further stage of dilution makes the resinoid more mobile and easier to work with much like an essential oil.

Our product is a 50/50 dilution with DPG*.    At 50 % dilution it quite mobile though still reasonably thick and viscous.