Balsam oil

Balsam of Peru ( Balsamum peruvianum ) is a dark brown liquid balm of vanilla- odor and scratchy, slightly bitter taste produced by the Anräuchern freed from bark 10 -year-old balsam trees ( Myroxylon balsamum var pereirae ) is obtained after the end of the rainy season. Balsam of Peru is not ready prefigured in the wood of trees, but it represents a pathological product

Composition

Peru balsam consists of 45-75 % of an ester mixture (formerly referred to as cinnamein ) which is assembled to 2/3 from benzyl benzoate, and 1/ 3 of Zimtsäurebenzylester. Further 25 to 30% resins, benzoic acid, cinnamic acid, vanillin, 5 % nerolidol and farnesol are to be found in the substance.

Properties

Balsam of Peru is readily soluble in ethanol and chloroform, insoluble in fatty oils ( with castor oil to 15 % mixed ), insoluble in water.

Use

It is used in medicine as a wound healing agent (5-20 %) in ointments, hemorrhoid suppositories, as well as in perfumery as a fixative component to communicate warm sweetness. Sometimes it is used as incense, especially if real incense is difficult to obtain or too expensive. The resulting scent reminiscent of chocolate. However, the smoke of the Balsams strongly irritates the respiratory tract and dissolves quickly violent coughing from.

The EU Cosmetics Directive in July 2005 prohibits the use of balsam of Peru as a fragrance ingredient because of frequently occurring contact allergies. Use the perfume manufacturer in its place which is considered the harmless Peru balsam oil, which is obtained by distillation from the balm.