Benzoin resin

As benzoin or benzoin is called the resin ( the outflowing rubber ) of various Benzoebäume. A distinction is made in the main the species' Siam benzoin " ( Styrax tonkinensis Craib. ) And" Sumatra benzoin " ( Styrax benzoin Dryand ), which include both the Storaxbaumgewächsen ( Styracaceae ). The wild-growing evergreen trees ( tonkinensis ) are harvested in Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia, while Sumatran Styrax is a regionally-limited product. Be distinguished from benzoin is the Styraxharz related Storaxbäume (about the American Amber tree Liquidambar styraciflua).

Etymology

The Arabic word for benzoin, luban dschawi " frankincense from Java", passed through trade relations with Catalonia to Europe. With the loss of the first syllable ( bandschawi ) and the change of the first a to e originated in the Italian benjuì, benzoic in Medieval Latin.

Smell and use

The fragrant benzoin is usually offered in its resin form and can be perfectly smoky. In India, Benzoin is a part of temple incense blends. In the Russian Orthodox Church, it is (and not the resin of the actual incense tree) the main component of the church incense. The incense Papier d' Arménie exudes an intense Benzoeduft. Benzoin is also used for the preparation of perfume; it is particularly suitable for oriental and warm fragrance compositions, at the same time it serves as a fixative.

The smell of slightly reddish Benzoin ( Siam, CAS-No. 900072-0 ) is adhesively, intense balsamic, slightly chocolaty and is reminiscent of vanilla. The dark brown benzoin (Sumatra, CAS-No. 900073-1 ) seems warmer, significantly creamier and sweeter.

The smell determining main ingredients are benzoic acid, cinnamic acid esters and vanillin. In Sumatra benzoin there are Coniferylzinnamat, benzaldehyde, and small amounts of styrene and Siam benzoin Coniferylbenzoat, benzoic acid and Zinnamylbenzoeat.

Benzoic acid is a preservative in the food industry. In Italy, used for the production of benzoic orzata syrup.

In musical instruments (eg violin ) benzoic acid is a component of violin varnish.

Swell

• Julia Lawless: The illustrated encyclopedia of essential oils. Your comprehensive guide to the healing oils and plant (Original Title: The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils, translated by Karl Friedrich horns ). Joke, Bern / Munich / Vienna 1996. ISBN 3-502-15400-7.
• Dieter Martinez, Roland Hartwig: Paperback of the fragrances. A lexicon from A -Z. Harri German, Thun, Frankfurt / Main 1998. ISBN 3-8171-1539-3.
• Susanne Fischer- Rizzi, Peter Eben High ( illustrations ): messages to the sky, application, impact and stories of fragrant incense. AT, Aaarau 2001, ISBN 3-85502-875-3 (original edition Munich, Hugendubel 1996, ISBN 3-88034-896-0 ).