£5.50
Benzoin is sweet, rich, vanilla-like and is of a warm amber colour. It has been traditionally used in Friar's Balsam for steam inhalations, and it is excellent for use in a nourishing blend for dry or weather-worn skin.
The two main types of Benzoin are Siam (styrax tonkinensis) and Sumatra (styrax benzoin). The Sumatran type is much cheaper to produce and coarser than the superior Siam type, which we stock.
Even diluted to 40%, it can still solidify easily and the bottle may be warmed in the hands or in warm water before use.
It is useful for all the family, particularly during the winter months when it is ideal for use in steam inhalations as well as in baths or massage blends for dry or weather-worn skin.