Technical detail
Two principal commercial varieties are used in perfumery:
- Siam benzoin (Styrax tonkinensis, Laos and Thailand): a purer, lighter variety dominated by benzoic acid and benzaldehyde; the highest-grade material preferred for fine fragrance.
- Sumatra benzoin (Styrax benzoin, Indonesia): richer, darker, more resinous, dominated by cinnamic acid esters; more commonly used in soap, incense, and lower-grade fragrance applications.
Benzoin is extracted as a resinoid by solvent extraction; the result is a thick, brown, vanilla-tinged semi-solid. Its key aromatic components include benzyl benzoate, benzyl cinnamate, benzoic acid, and vanillin. The vanillin content explains its natural sweetness. Benzoin is a standard fixative in oriental bases alongside labdanum, myrrh, and vanilla (Perfumer & Flavorist, accessed 2026-05-27).
Examples
- Shalimar (Guerlain, 1925, Jacques Guerlain): benzoin is a key base note alongside labdanum and vanilla in the canonical oriental amber accord.
- Opium (Yves Saint Laurent, 1977): benzoin contributes the dense, resinous-sweet base warmth.
- Tauer Perfumes L'Air du Désert Marocain: benzoin and labdanum form the warm resinous heart of this modern oriental.
Sources
- Société Française des Parfumeurs EN, raw materials glossary (accessed 27 May 2026)
- Perfumer & Flavorist: benzoin resinoid in oriental fragrance (accessed 27 May 2026)
- IFRA ingredient data: Styrax benzoin (accessed 27 May 2026)