Solubility & Blending Suggestions

  • Dilute well and add drop by drop to your blends until the desired effect is achieved.
  • Soluble in fixed (carrier) oils and 190 proof alcohol. This viscous oil may require special use instructions to blend, please see our FAQ section for details. A component in Liquidambar (Styrax) called styrene is in the chemical class of vinyls; while styrene blends with fixed (carrier) oils, most alcohol is too polar (water content too high) to dissolve these molecules and will either precipitate out or cause cloudiness. Our experience is that only slight cloudiness occurs when Liquidambar is combined with 190 proof alcohol. This can be ameliorated by chill filtering.
  • Liquidambar (Styrax) is “used in numerous types of floral perfumes, e.g., lilac, hyacinth, apple blossom, carnations, etc. In spite of its deep sweetness, its dry-floral note makes it suitable for cassie, mimosa, violet, carnation and hawthorn (spicy notes!), lavender and fougère (sweetness and tenacity), rose, etc…. and is one of the most interesting perfume materials.”*

    • *Arctander, Steffen. Perfume and Flavor Materials of Natural Origin, 1960, pp. 600-601.

    Suggested Resources

    • The Aromatherapy Companion, Victoria H Edwards, 2015, p. 51.
    • L’Aromatherapie Exactement, Pierre Franchomme and Dr. Daniel Pénoël, 1990, p. 367.
    • 375 Essential Oils and Hydrosols, Jeanne Rose, 1999, p. 145.
    • Perfume and Flavor Materials of Natural Origin, Steffen Arctander, 1960, pp. 599-601.
    • The Magical and Ritual Use of Perfumes, Richard A and Iona Miller, 1990, pp. 69-71.
    • The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy, Valerie Ann Worwood, 2016, pp. 453-4.
    • Scented Flora of the World, Roy Genders, 1994, p. 290.

    Liquidambar (Styrax)

    Liquidambar styraciflua L.

    (20)

    SKU 570-G sizes:

    Sample 1 ml (1/30 oz)
    $4.00
    15 ml (1/2 oz)
    $15.50
    30 ml (1 oz)
    $26.75
    59.14 ml (2 oz)
    $45.75
    118.29 ml (4 oz)
    $81.00
    236.58 ml (8 oz)
    $147.25
    473.17 ml (16 oz)
    $273.50
    1 kg (2 1/5 lb)
    $504.50

    Contact us for bulk inquiries.

    Botanical NameLiquidambar styraciflua L.
    Suggested UsePerfumery, Soapmaking, Candle Crafting
    INCI NameLiquidambar Styraciflua Balsam Extract
    CAS Number8024-01-9
    OriginHonduras
    Extraction MethodSolvent Extracted
    CultivationWild Harvested
    Plant Partresin.
    Notemiddle, base, fixatives.
    Aroma Familyresinous.
    Aroma ProfileVery rich, sweet-balsamic, faintly floral, somewhat spicy aroma, with a peculiar styrene topnote and resinous, animalic, amber-like undertones; has excellent fixative qualities.
    AppearanceMedium to light brown, transparent, viscous (thick honey-like) liquid. This oil may require special use instructions to blend.
    Shipping Restriction0 – Non-Hazardous

    Safety Considerations

    • Moderate risk of skin sensitization; to be used with caution on hypersensitive or damaged skin and on children less than 2 years of age.* In consumer products, maximum dermal use level of 0.6% is recommended.** Please note that this product is restricted by the IFRA.***
    • Dilute before using. A patch test should be performed before use for those with sensitive skin.
    • Store in a cool, dark place away from heat and light.
    • *Tisserand, Robert and Rodney Young. Essential Oil Safety, 2nd ed., 2014, p. 432.
    • **Ibid.
    • ***https://ifrafragrance.org/safe-use/library , CAS No. 8024-01-9 and others.

    Liquidambar (Styrax)

    Liquidambar styraciflua L.

    (20)

    We searched for many years to find a high-quality, authentic hexane-free Liquidambar resinoid. This is it, and we are happy to offer it to you. The aroma of our Liquidambar (Styrax), also known as Sweet Gum, is very rich, sweet-balsamic, faintly floral and somewhat spicy, with resinous, animalic, amber-like undertones.

    Size

    Selected size SKU:570-015 - Liquidambar (Styrax) 15 ml (1/2 oz) (w/ orifice reducer)

    Sample 1 ml (1/30 oz)
    $4.00
    15 ml (1/2 oz)
    $15.50
    30 ml (1 oz)
    $26.75
    59.14 ml (2 oz)
    $45.75
    118.29 ml (4 oz)
    $81.00
    236.58 ml (8 oz)
    $147.25
    473.17 ml (16 oz)
    $273.50
    1 kg (2 1/5 lb)
    $504.50
    $4.00
    Inquire About Bulk Pricing
    Details
    Solubility & Blending Suggestions
    Suggested Resources
    Safety Considerations
    Certificates of Analysis (COA)
    Documentation

    Product Overview

    We searched for many years to find a high-quality, authentic hexane-free Liquidambar resinoid. This is it, and we are happy to offer it to you. The aroma of our Liquidambar (Styrax), also known as Sweet Gum, is very rich, sweet-balsamic, faintly floral and somewhat spicy, with resinous, animalic, amber-like undertones. A unique styrene top note of hydrocarbon character displays as a characteristic ‘gasoline-type’ (some say ‘metallic’) odor that mellows to a great extent with time and usually becomes odorless.[1]

    While Liquidambar may not appeal to everyone, this unusual material can be used to enhance a formula when used in small amounts and is best used as a component of a composition, rather than on its own.[2] Because of its content of high boiling constituents, “it acts as a most efficient odor fixative.”[3] Perhaps this explains in part why it was one of the most valued of ancient perfumes; it was also burned as an altar incense.[4] In modern times, it is used in quality perfumes – for example, the classics of Tweed (1933) by Lenthéric[5], Chanel No 5 (1921) by Chanel[6], and Apres l’Ondèe (1906) by Guerlain[7].

    It is especially hard to find a Liquidambar resinoid that has a pleasant aroma – numerous materials on the perfumery market offered as true Liquidambar are quite often compounded.[8] There is also a lot of discussion around the irritancy and allergenic potential of Styrax, although much of it seems based on ‘poor’ data and misinformation. This product is actually prohibited by the IFRA due to this potentially faulty data,[9] however Styrax consistently shows very low percentages of these occurrences – and typically only in individuals with prior sensitization issues.

    PLEASE NOTE: A component in Liquidambar (Styrax) called styrene is in the chemical class of vinyls; while styrene blends with fixed (carrier) oils, most alcohol is too polar (water content too high) to dissolve these molecules and will either precipitate out or cause cloudiness. Our experience is that only slight cloudiness occurs when Liquidambar is combined with 190 proof alcohol.

    1 Arctander, Steffen. Perfume and Flavor Materials of Natural Origin, 1960, pp. 600-601.

    2 Ibid.

    3 Guenther, Ernest. The Essential Oils, Vol. V, 1985, p. 254.

    4 Miller, Richard and Iona Miller. The Magical and Ritual Use of Perfumes, 1990, p. 69.

    5 Groom, Nigel. The New Perfume Handbook, 2nd ed., 1997, pp. 317-8.

    6 Calkin, Robert and J Stephan Jellinek. Perfumery – Practice and Principles, 1994, p. 117.

    7 https://www.fragrantica.com/perfume/Guerlain/Apres-l-Ondee-13.html

    8 Arctander, Steffen. Perfume and Flavor Materials of Natural Origin, 1960, pp. 600-601.

    9 Tisserand, Robert and Rodney Young. Essential Oil Safety, 2nd ed., 2014, p. 433.

    Product Overview

    We searched for many years to find a high-quality, authentic hexane-free Liquidambar resinoid. This is it, and we are happy to offer it to you. The aroma of our Liquidambar (Styrax), also known as Sweet Gum, is very rich, sweet-balsamic, faintly floral and somewhat spicy, with resinous, animalic, amber-like undertones. A unique styrene top note of hydrocarbon character displays as a characteristic ‘gasoline-type’ (some say ‘metallic’) odor that mellows to a great extent with time and usually becomes odorless.[1]

    While Liquidambar may not appeal to everyone, this unusual material can be used to enhance a formula when used in small amounts and is best used as a component of a composition, rather than on its own.[2] Because of its content of high boiling constituents, “it acts as a most efficient odor fixative.”[3] Perhaps this explains in part why it was one of the most valued of ancient perfumes; it was also burned as an altar incense.[4] In modern times, it is used in quality perfumes – for example, the classics of Tweed (1933) by Lenthéric[5], Chanel No 5 (1921) by Chanel[6], and Apres l’Ondèe (1906) by Guerlain[7].

    It is especially hard to find a Liquidambar resinoid that has a pleasant aroma – numerous materials on the perfumery market offered as true Liquidambar are quite often compounded.[8] There is also a lot of discussion around the irritancy and allergenic potential of Styrax, although much of it seems based on ‘poor’ data and misinformation. This product is actually prohibited by the IFRA due to this potentially faulty data,[9] however Styrax consistently shows very low percentages of these occurrences – and typically only in individuals with prior sensitization issues.

    PLEASE NOTE: A component in Liquidambar (Styrax) called styrene is in the chemical class of vinyls; while styrene blends with fixed (carrier) oils, most alcohol is too polar (water content too high) to dissolve these molecules and will either precipitate out or cause cloudiness. Our experience is that only slight cloudiness occurs when Liquidambar is combined with 190 proof alcohol.

    1 Arctander, Steffen. Perfume and Flavor Materials of Natural Origin, 1960, pp. 600-601.

    2 Ibid.

    3 Guenther, Ernest. The Essential Oils, Vol. V, 1985, p. 254.

    4 Miller, Richard and Iona Miller. The Magical and Ritual Use of Perfumes, 1990, p. 69.

    5 Groom, Nigel. The New Perfume Handbook, 2nd ed., 1997, pp. 317-8.

    6 Calkin, Robert and J Stephan Jellinek. Perfumery – Practice and Principles, 1994, p. 117.

    7 https://www.fragrantica.com/perfume/Guerlain/Apres-l-Ondee-13.html

    8 Arctander, Steffen. Perfume and Flavor Materials of Natural Origin, 1960, pp. 600-601.

    9 Tisserand, Robert and Rodney Young. Essential Oil Safety, 2nd ed., 2014, p. 433.

    Blends Well With

    Ambrette Seed CO2 - Fine

    $186.75 / 15 ml

    Angelica Root CO2 - Organic

    $110.25 / 15 ml

    Star Anise EO

    $8.25 / 15 ml

    Basil Family

    $0.00

    Benzoin

    $10.25 / 15 ml

    Bergamot Family

    $0.00

    Carnation Absolute

    $123.50 / 15 ml

    Champaca Family

    $0.00

    Cinnamon Bark - Organic EO

    $23.50 / 15 ml

    Clary Sage Family

    $0.00

    Clove Bud - Organic EO

    $8.25 / 15 ml

    Davana EO

    $44.00 / 15 ml

    Fir Family

    $0.00

    Frankincense Family

    $0.00

    Galbanum CO2

    $22.50 / 15 ml

    Suggested Reading

    logo

    2015-02-26

    Fixatives and Their Function in Natural Perfumery

    At Eden Botanicals, we receive many inquiries about fixatives, so we decided to dedicate an article on the topic.

    logo

    2014-11-25

    Holiday Gift Ideas

    Are you ready to be creative this holiday season? The following simple recipe ideas might help get you in the spirit.

    logo

    2026-03-27

    Why You Need Mushroom in Your Perfume

    There’s a dirty little secret known to experienced perfumers: the most intriguing fragrances always contain something a little ‘off.’ Historically, formulators used animal-derived aromas like ambergris, civet, and castoreum, now mostly replaced by synthetic versions. But perfumers still rely on the funky facets in botanicals...