Bushman Candle

Q: Is Bushman Candle natural or synthetic?

Extraction: Small-scale steam distillation or solvent extraction of the resinous bark. No commercial-scale production exists. Wild harvesting is restricted due to the plants' extreme slow growth and conservation concerns..

NaturalRESINS & BALSAMSbalsamic · warm · earthy

BasePyramid

4/5Strength

>200hTenacity

2Origins

Specimen

Bushman Candle perfume ingredient — Base

Monsonia spp. (syn. Sarcocaulon)

Definition

Resinous, camphoraceous, faintly sweet. Bushman's candle smells like the South African fynbos on a hot day — aromatic scrubland resins melting in the sun.

CAMPHORACEOUS BALSAMIC WARM RESINOUS WAXY

Bushman’s Candle, Candlewood

Instruments

Pyramid

TTop

HHeart

BBase

4/5Strength

High

odour strength

Tenacity on blotter

>200hours · 8 days

1 h6 h24 h3 d7 d400 h

Producing countries

Namibia South Africa

Scent

Camphoraceous-resinous, dry, faintly sweet. Desert aromatics — not the cool camphor of menthol but the warm camphor of sun-heated resin. A balsamic sweetness underneath, with an austere, mineral quality. Unlike any Mediterranean or Asian resin.

Grades & Aging

Indicative 2025 wholesale prices.

The Full Story

Bushman's candle (Sarcocaulon spp.) is a succulent shrub native to the arid regions of southern Africa, particularly the Namaqualand and Karoo. The thick, waxy bark is so rich in resins that the stems can be lit and will burn like a candle — hence the common name.

The resin has a camphoraceous, sweet, slightly balsamic scent. When the bark is heated or burned, it releases aromatic compounds dominated by monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes. The scent is particular: drier than frankincense, more camphorous, with a unique fynbos-desert character.

In perfumery, bushman's candle is a very rare, niche natural. Small-scale artisanal extractions exist but are not commercially significant. The note provides African-desert aromatic character — distinct from any other resin in the perfumer's palette.

Sarcocaulon is now reclassified as Monsonia by most taxonomists. The plants are extremely slow-growing — some specimens are estimated to be several hundred years old despite being only 30 cm tall.

This note in Première Peau. Albâtre Sépia · Simili Mirage. Sample all seven extraits in the Discovery Set.

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Related: Amberwood · Andiroba · Bakhoor · Balsamic Notes · Benzoin Resinoid · Benzyl Benzoate · Benzyl Salicylate · Birch Tar

Extraction & Chemistry

Extraction method

Small-scale steam distillation or solvent extraction of the resinous bark. No commercial-scale production exists. Wild harvesting is restricted due to the plants' extreme slow growth and conservation concerns.

Formula: Complex mixture — waxy resin rich in long-chain hydrocarbons
CAS: N/A — no standard CAS for Sarcocaulon resin
Botanical: Monsonia spp. (syn. Sarcocaulon)
Appearance: Dark amber to brown viscous liquid
Odour strength: High
Lasting power: > 200 hours
Synonyms: Bushman’s Candle, Candlewood

IFRA status

See note

No IFRA Standard for the material itself (51st Amendment)

Physical properties

Note: Waxy resin from stems of Sarcocaulon (Monsonia) spp.

In Perfumery

Rare natural resin providing unique desert-aromatic character. Camphoraceous-balsamic profile distinct from frankincense or myrrh. Extremely niche — small artisanal production only. Functions in fynbos-themed, desert, or African-inspired compositions. Provides dry, austere resinous warmth.

Role in the formula

01fixative

02modifier

03blender

04volume builder

Available as

essential oil absolute

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