Resin

Peru Balsam

Note Profile

Botanical 255 perfumes

Also Known As

Peruvian Balsam

About

Sweet, warm, vanilla-cinnamic balsam from South American tree bark

Scent Profile

Peru Balsam has a sweet, warm, and rich aroma with pronounced vanilla and cinnamon-like facets, underpinned by subtle smoky and woody undertones. Its scent is dense and enveloping, with a lingering, slightly spicy balsamic character that deepens as it dries down. The note can impart both sweetness and a resinous warmth to a composition.

ScentWheel

Breadthfocused

EnvelopeBase · ~36h lasting

Family Amber · Musk · Leather, Sweet & Gourmand

Read off the wheel, not a label applied to the note.

What this is made of

Peru balsam distillate

A natural extract

CAS 8007-00-9

Peru balsam distillate (IFRA NCS). The crude resinoid is a known sensitiser and restricted; the distillate is the perfumery material.

Declarable allergen: Named in EU Annex III as Myroxylon Balsamum Pereirae Balsam Extract products must list this name above a set concentration
Restricted: An IFRA Standard limits how much of this a perfumer can use the limit applies to the perfumer, not the wearer

These are facts about the substance, not about any perfume with this note.

Why that matters

A perfume that names Peru Balsam can use a different extract, a reformulated version, or a synthetic reconstruction. It can also hold less than the amount that requires a declaration. We cannot tell which applies. These rows cover only the substances we hold a link for.

How the layers join

Origin

Peru Balsam is obtained from the bark of Myroxylon balsamum var. pereirae trees native to Central and South America, primarily El Salvador. The resin is harvested by making incisions in the bark, collecting the exuded sap, and then purifying it for perfumery use.

Usage in Perfumery

Perfumers use Peru Balsam mainly as a base note to provide fixation and warmth, often in oriental, amber, and gourmand accords. It blends well with vanilla, spices, woods, and florals, enhancing sweetness and depth in both feminine and masculine fragrances.