Styrax EO

Latin name :

Liquidambar orientalis

Botanical profile :

Styrax is a tree of the Hammamelidae family and the genus Liquidambar.

Geographic origin :

Native to Asia Minor, styrax is a tree now grown in Turkey and Central America (particularly in Honduras)

Chemotypes :

The genus Liquidambar has two major species cultivated for perfumery:
The Liquidambar styraciflua (present in Latin America, especially in Honduras) naturally exudes the resin. Its composition is richer in Beta-Caryophyllene.
The Liquidambar orientalis (present in Turkey) must be hammered to exude the resin.

Two other species can be used in perfumery, but on a smaller scale:
The Liquidambar formosana, or Formosan sweetgum, from China.
The Liquidambar acalycina, also from China (South of the country).

Extraction process :

Styrax is a medium-sized tree that secretes a resin in its sapwood (the youngest part of a tree) and its bark.
The resin is naturally secreted by the trees but its secretion can be accelerated by an incision or voluntary hammering of the tree. After a month drying on the tree, the resin is collected to be extracted by steam distillation after filtration.
The drying hardens the resin, which turns brown due to oxidation. Once placed in the distillation tank, the steam distillation is done under pressure and the essential oil is collected at the end of the process, by decantation, with a rather high yield.
Styrax resinoid results from an extraction with alcohol and has more hold, is more ambered, balsamic and warm than the essential oil. There is also a CO₂ extract of Styrax, which gives the extract a higher olfactory quality, but is more expensive.
The leaves of the tree can also be extracted, to obtain an essential oil whose composition is more volatile and smell is very terpenic.

Major Components :

Styrene (≈70%)
Alpha-Pinene (≈20%)
Beta-Pinene (≈4%)
Benzyl Cinnamate (≈2%)
Cinnamyl Alcohol (≈2%)
D-Limonene (≈1%)
Camphene (≈1%)