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Balsamic Perfume
A balsamic note is an olfactory note defined as sweet, suave, soft and warm. Balsamic notes are spoken of when balsams and resins are incorporated into perfume compositions. Balsamic notes are mainly integrated into oriental compositions. They bring both significant warmth and great softness. A balsamic note is a note that embalms, that soothes, that possesses a calming and softening quality. Among the best-known balsamic notes are vanilla, tolu, incense, myrrh, benzoin and styrax.
Characteristics of balsamic olfactory notes
Balsamic notes thus contain several ingredients. Styrax is a resin that comes from the secretion of a tree from South America, mainly from Mexico, Honduras and Guatemala. The resins obtained are purified then distilled in order to collect essential oil from them. Benzoin, also called “styrax,” is a resin extracted from the styrax tree. The latter is found in Malaysia, Laos and Vietnam. In perfumery, it is mainly Siam benzoin that is used, offering balsamic, soft, vanilla-like tonalities and also serving as a fixative. Myrrh is a gum-resin produced by the myrrh tree. This aromatic tree is present in the arid regions of northeast Africa. Myrrh essence is obtained through steam distillation. In perfumery, myrrh gives off warm, amber and resinous notes.
Balsamic notes, components of oriental perfumes
Balsamic notes are used in oriental compositions, generally as a base note, since they envelop the entire composition, offering softness and warmth. Balsamic notes are found in numerous oriental perfumes, such as in Eau de Minuit Poussières d'étoiles by Lolita Lempicka, which combines both myrrh and benzoin. Myrrh is also found in another oriental perfume by Lolita Lempicka, Elle l'aime à la folie. Rochas also used tolu balsam and benzoin in Absolu, an oriental-floral. Balsamic notes also compose masculine perfumes such as A*Men by Thierry Mugler, where styrax sits as a base note. Another masculine oriental composition where styrax is positioned as a base note is Armani code Profumo by Armani. Benzoin is often combined with vanilla, as is the case for Allure pour Homme by Chanel or Ambre Impérial by Van Cleef & Arpels. Balsamic notes are found in a great many fragrances, both feminine and masculine, such as Bois d'Arménie by Guerlain, Bois Vanille by Serge Lutens, Body Kouros by Yves Saint Laurent, or Cuir de Lancôme by Lancôme.
Because they bring softness, roundness and warmth, balsamic notes are highly prized in perfumery. Balsamic notes are numerous and include benzoin, tolu, styrax, incense, vanilla and myrrh. Balsamic notes fit wonderfully into oriental compositions.
Perfumes with the Balsamic notes note
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