Amyris Balsamifera Bark Oil
The Balsam Torchwood (Amyris balsamifera) is a flowering citrus plant cultivated in the West Indies and in Central and South America. Trees grow to a height of 18 meters, with white flowers. These trees have a fragrant resin, and this high oil content in the wood makes it exceptionally flammable - hence the name ‘torchwood’. Amyris oil is produced from the bark of the fallen, dried tree through steam distillation. The oil is used in fragrances, varnishes, cosmetics, soaps and incenses, while the wood can be used for torches or firewood.
Botanical name: Amyris balsamifera
Other names: Balsam Torchwood, West Indian Sandalwood, West Indian Rosewood
Main constituents: Valerianol, beta-Eudesmol, 10-epi-gamma-Eudesmol, Elemol, Selin-5-en-7-ol (tent.), Selina-3,7(11)-diene, Zingiberene, ar-Curcumene, epi-alpha-Selinene