Amber · Natural material · Base notes
Peru balsam
Peru balsam is a liquid resin from the Myroxylon balsamum var. pereirae tree, which grows in Central and South America. It smells sweet like vanilla and warm like resin, with a woody side and a light powdery touch. In perfume, Peru balsam almost always sits in the base and makes the dry-down softer and sweeter.
· Written by the FRAG team
What does Peru balsam smell like?
Peru balsam smells sweet and warm, like vanilla blended with resin and a faint spice. In the base there is a soft woody and powdery side. On skin, Peru balsam feels smooth and round, with no sharp edges.
Peru balsam is softer and sweeter than labdanum, which is darker and has a leathery side. That is why perfumers often use Peru balsam to smooth out a warm base.
Why is it called Peru balsam?
Peru balsam comes from the Myroxylon balsamum var. pereirae tree and today is mostly harvested and exported from El Salvador. The name dates from Spanish colonial times, when balsam from Central America was shipped through the port of Callao in Peru on its way to Europe.
Harvesting is still done by hand. Workers cut the bark, and rags soak up the resin that flows out. The rags are boiled, and the balsam, which sinks in the water, is collected as a dark brown liquid. IFRA has banned crude Peru balsam in fragrance since 1982, so perfumes use its extracts and distillates within set limits.
Peru balsam in a perfume
Peru balsam is almost always placed in the base notes. Because it evaporates slowly, Peru balsam helps sweet notes like vanilla and tonka feel rounder in the dry-down.
In warm amber blends, Peru balsam usually sits alongside vanilla, benzoin, tonka bean and cinnamon. It also works with styrax and labdanum in resin blends, and with dark fruit such as cherry in gourmand perfumes.
When Peru balsam is nice to wear
Peru balsam makes a perfume warm and sweet, so it is more comfortable at night, in air-conditioned rooms or during the rainy season. On a hot day, a light spray keeps the sweetness from feeling heavy.
