Benzoin resin

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 (see tincture of benzoin). Its principle component is benzoic acid. [cite journal | author=Pastrorova I, de Koster CG, Boom JJ | title= Analytic Study of Free and Ester Bound Benzoic and Cinnamic Acids of Gum Benzoin Resins by GC-MS HPLC-frit FAB-MS | journal=Phytochem Anal | year=1997 | issue=8 | pages=63–73 | doi= 10.1002/(SICI)1099-1565(199703)8:2<63::AID-PCA337>3.0.CO;2-Y | volume= 8 ] 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" (لبان خاوي, "frankincense from Java"), because it was brought from Indonesia.

Use

Benzoin resin is a common ingredient in incense-making and perfumery because of its aroma and fixative properties. Gum benzoin is a major component of the type of church incense used in Russia and some other Orthodox Christian societies. Benzoin resin is also used in blended types of Japanese incense, Indian incense, Chinese incense, and Papier d'Arménie. When called sambrani or sambraani, it is a popular Indian incense used to scent and treat hair and prevent infections.

There are two types of benzoin resin used in incense and perfumery, benzoin Siam and benzoin Sumatra. Benzoin Siam is obtained from "Styrax tonkinensis" found across Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam. Benzoin Sumatra is obtained from "Styrax benzoin" grown on the island of Sumatra. Both varieties are pathogenic resins, which are exuded from the tree when it is damaged.

In perfumery, benzoin is used as a fixative, slowing the dispersion of essential oils and other fragrance materials into the air.

References

External links

* [http://www.thefifthsense.com/scent_dir_pages/scentdir_benzoin.htm Aroma of Benzoin]


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно сделать НИР?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Benzoin — IUPAC name …   Wikipedia

  • benzoin — balsamic resin obtained from a tree (Styrax benzoin) of Indonesia, 1560s (earlier as bengewine, 1550s), from M.Fr. benjoin (16c.), which comes via Spanish, Portuguese, or Italian from Arabic luban jawi incense of Java (actually Sumatra, with… …   Etymology dictionary

  • benzoin — [ben′zō in΄, ben zō′in; ben′zoin΄] n. [Fr benjoin < It benzoino < Ar lubān jāwī, incense of Java: lu dropped because falsely assumed to be the article] 1. a balsamic resin obtained from certain tropical Asiatic trees (genus Styrax of the… …   English World dictionary

  • benzoin — A balsamic resin obtained from Styrax b. (family Styracaceae), used as a stimulant expectorant, but usually by inhalation in laryngitis and bronchitis; it retards rancidification of fats and is used for this purpose in the official benzoinated… …   Medical dictionary

  • benzoin — benzoin1 /ben zoh in, zoyn, ben zoh in/, n. 1. Also called gum benjamin, gum benzoin. a reddish brown, aromatic balsamic resin occurring in almondlike fragments and having a vanillalike odor, obtained from trees of the genus Styrax, esp. S.… …   Universalium

  • benzoin — [ bɛnzəʊɪn] noun 1》 (also gum benzoin) a fragrant gum resin obtained from certain East Asian storax trees. 2》 Chemistry a crystalline aromatic ketone present in benzoin. Origin C16: from Fr. benjoin, based on Arab. lubānjāwī incense of Java …   English new terms dictionary

  • benzoin — /ˈbɛnzɔɪn/ (say benzoyn), /ˈbɛnzoʊən/ (say benzohuhn) noun 1. a balsamic resin obtained from species of Styrax, especially S. benzoin, a tree of Java, Sumatra, etc., and used in perfumery, medicine, etc. 2. any plant of the lauraceous genus… …  

  • benzoin — ben·zo·in || benzəʊɪn n. bitter almond oil camphor (Chemistry); gum benzoin, type of resin obtained from certain trees (used in the making of cosmetics, perfumes and in medicine) …   English contemporary dictionary

  • benzoin — I ben•zo•in [[t]ˈbɛn zoʊ ɪn, zɔɪn, bɛnˈzoʊ ɪn[/t]] n. 1) pln a reddish brown balsamic resin obtained from certain storax trees, used in medicine and perfumery 2) pln any plant belonging to the genus Lindera (Benzoin), of the laurel family, as the …   From formal English to slang

  • benzoin —   n. balsamic resin used in perfumery, etc., and in medicine as compound tincture called friar s balsam; bitter almond oil camphor, found in gum benzoin.    ♦ benzoic,   a …   Dictionary of difficult words

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”