Tolu Balsam is a sweet, vanilla-scented resin from the Myroxylon balsamum tree of northern South America. Lighter and more fragrant than its cousin Peru balsam, it smells of vanilla, cinnamon and soft resin, and is used as a warm, gently fixing base note.
What does Tolu Balsam smell like?
Tolu balsam is sweet, rounded and resinous, with a vanilla-like softness, a gentle cinnamic spice and a faint floral or fruity lift. It lacks the dark, smoky bitterness of Peru balsam and is less powdery than benzoin. The raw balsam hardens into a brittle, amber-coloured mass; resinoids made from it retain the soft vanilla-cinnamon profile.
Where Tolu Balsam comes from
Tolu balsam is collected from V-shaped cuts in the trunk of Myroxylon balsamum var. balsamum, with the resin draining into containers attached to the tree. It is named after Santiago de Tolú, a port on the Caribbean coast of Colombia from which it was historically exported.
- Also known as: Balsam of Tolu, tolu, Myroxylon toluiferum
- Fragrance family: Amber (balsamic)
- Type: Natural
- Main origins: Colombia and Venezuela; also other parts of northern South America
- How it's obtained: Tapping of the trunk, then solvent extraction to a resinoid
- Key aroma molecules: Benzyl benzoate, benzyl cinnamate, cinnamic and benzoic acid, vanillin
Tolu Balsam in perfume history
Europeans encountered tolu balsam in the 16th century, and it quickly entered pharmacy as a flavouring for cough syrups and lozenges, a use that continues today. In perfumery it became a traditional component of amber bases and powdery, vanillic accords.
Tolu Balsam in modern perfumery
Tolu balsam is used in more modest quantities than benzoin or labdanum, mostly as a warm, natural touch in ambers, gourmands and oriental-style florals. It is appreciated by natural perfumers as a gentler alternative to Peru balsam.
How Tolu Balsam wears and what it pairs with
A soft base note of good longevity, it sweetens and fixes a composition without dominating it. It pairs with vanilla, tonka, benzoin, cinnamon, rose, carnation, sandalwood and vetiver.
Safety and regulation
Tolu balsam contains benzyl benzoate, benzyl cinnamate and vanillin, which are listed EU fragrance allergens that must be declared above set thresholds.
