Note · Resins and balsams

Tolu balsam

Myroxylon balsamum

This balsam flows from the cut bark of a South American tree. It smells of vanilla, cinnamon and caramel, with a very soft balsamic warmth.

What it brings

A comforting amber sweetness that anchors lighter notes.

Origins and uses

Tolu balsam comes from a South American tree, Myroxylon balsamum, found notably in Colombia, Peru and Venezuela. Its name comes from the port of Tolú, in Colombia, from where it was shipped to Europe. It is harvested by making a V-shaped cut in the living trunk, beneath which a gourd is fixed to collect the resin. Fresh, it is a sticky brown mass, rich in benzyl and cinnamic esters, with a warm, sweet, slightly spicy scent.

Long used in pharmacy, in cough syrups, it is now used mainly in perfumery. It brings to the base of compositions a balsamic softness with hints of vanilla and cinnamon, and helps extend lighter notes.

In our catalogue, it gives its name to Tolu by Ormonde Jayne, where it warms a base of incense, amber and tonka bean.

Text written with the help of AI, based on reference sources: encyclopedias, raw-material manufacturers and official information from the fragrance houses.

Material profile