Peru Balsam

Peru balsam is a resin taken from Myroxylon balsamum, a tree of Central America, despite its name. The tree is tapped and the dark, syrupy balsam is processed into an oil or resinoid. It smells sweet, warm and resinous, with vanilla, a touch of cinnamon and a soft balsamic depth. Perfumers use it in the base, where it thickens other materials and gives a smooth, lingering warmth. It pairs naturally with amber, tobacco, benzoin and woods, and it gives gourmand and oriental fragrances a rich, rounded finish.

Peru balsam is a base note in most of these fragrances, adding a warm, vanilla-like resinous sweetness that thickens amber, tobacco and woods.