Benzoin resin
Benzoin resin or
styrax resin is a
balsamic
resin obtained from the bark of several species of trees in the genus
Styrax. It is used in perfumes, some kinds of incense, and medicine. It principally contains
benzoic acid.
[1] Commonly called "benzoin", it is called "benzoin resin" here to distinguish it from the crystalline compound
benzoin. Benzoin resin does
not contain this crystalline compound.
Benzoin is also called
gum benzoin or
gum benjamin, but "gum" is incorrect as benzoin is not a water-soluble
polysaccharide.
Its name probably came via
Italian from
Arabic lubān jāwī = "
frankincense from
Java", because it was brought from
Indonesia.
Gum benzoin is a major component of the type of church
incense used in
Russia and some other
Orthodox Christian societies.
Benzoin is often used in combination of other essential oils to slow their dispersion into the air.
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