Common Name: Benzoin

General Information

Styrax benzoin is an aromatic, evergreen tree growing from 8 - 34 metres tall with a slightly buttressed bole that can be from 10 - 100cm in diameter[]. The plant excretes a fragrant balsam on being bruised[].
This species is the main source of the fragrant gum, benzoin[]. Traditionally, this has been gathered from the wild for local medicinal use[]. It first gained popularity in Europe towards the end of the 16th century, and now finds extensive use worldwide as an incense and in the flavour, fragrance and pharmaceutical industries[]. It is probably best known as an ingredient of the herbal preparation 'Friar's Balsam'[]. It is cultivated for its gum in tropical Asia[, ]
Styrax benzoin has a very large extent of occurrence and is known from at least five protected areas and it is likely to be under collected. There are some local threats to distribution and quality of habitat, but these are not considered to be causing major declines globally. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2024)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

E. Asia - India, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam.

Habitat

Tropical rainforests[]. Rich woodlands and swamps in Sumatra[]. Prefers mixed primary forest with rich clayey soils[]. It is less common in dense secondary forest[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	7.50 m
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the lowland, moist tropics, where it is usually found at elevations of 100 - 700 metres, exceptionally to 1,600 metres[]. It grows in areas where the mean annual rainfall is usually 1,500 - 2,200 mm, with no distinct dry season (or only a few drier months)[]. However, under cultivation it will thrive in areas with mean annual rainfall as low as 1,300 mm with 3 - 6 dry months[]. The mean annual temperature in its natural range is 15 - 26°c, but it can tolerate extremes as low as 4°c and as high as 45°c for a short period[].
Prefers a moist but well-drained lime-free, loamy soil and a position in full sun or partial shade[]. Grows best in the company of other trees and shrubs, so long as root competition is not too intense[].

Edible Uses

The gum from the bark is used as a flavouring in the food industry[, ]. It is used particularly in the manufacture of chocolate flavours for chocolate bars, ice-cream, milk products, syrups and other products[]. It is popular in Scandinavia as a flavouring in baked goods containing vanilla or cassia, where it also serves to 'fix' the other flavours and increase their spiciness[].

Medicinal

Benzoin gum is a balsamic resin. It contains variable quantities of cinnamic, benzoic and sumaresinolinic acid esters; free acids such as benzoic acid; benzaldehyde and vanillin[]. The gum is strongly antiseptic, carminative, expectorant and astringent[, ]. In Chinese medicine it is considered to be a circulatory stimulant[].
Taken internally, the gum acts to settle griping pains, to stimulate coughing and to disinfect the urinary tract[]. It is used in the treatment of coughs, colds, bronchitis, sore throats[].
In the form of a tincture, benzoin is inhaled with steam for the relief of catarrh, laryngitis, bronchitis and upper respiratory tract disorders[]
It is used externally on wounds and ulcers to tighten and disinfect the affected tissue[]. It is also used for the prevention and treatment of cold sores, for the treatment of warts and to freshen and soothe dry skin and ameliorate skin allergies[].
The gum is obtained from deep incisions made in the bark of trees that are at least 7 years old[].

The gum is used in aromatherapy, where it is considered to be a sedative[].

Benzoin gum is an ingredient of the proprietary preparation 'Friar's Balsam'[]. This is an antiseptic and expectorant steam inhalation for sore throats, head and chest colds, asthma and bronchitis[].

Other Uses

Benzoin gum is used as an antioxidant in cosmetics and a fixative in perfumes[]. The better grades of benzoin are extracted for the manufacture of fragrant products[]. These include personal health care products such as toilet soaps, shampoos, body lotions and creams; and household and other products such as liquid soaps, air fresheners and washing detergents[].
One of the important functions of the gum is to serve as a fixative for the other fragrance materials, increasing the tenacity and preventing loss of the middle and top notes of the more volatile components[].
The gum is used as an incense or for making joss sticks[]. Most commonly, small or crushed pieces of the raw benzoin, in semi-processed block form, are simply placed on an open fire, either in the house or in the place of worship[]. Sometimes it is mixed with other natural fragrance resins such as frankincense (Boswellia spp.), myrrh (Copaifera spp.) and storax (Liquidambar orientalis)[].

Propagation

Seed -
Cuttings of half ripe wood.

Add a Comment:

If you have any useful information about this plant, please leave a comment. Comments have to be approved before they are shown here.

Name:

Email(Private):

Message:

Captcha: what is greater, 5 or 9?