Soft, woody-peppery balsam with a clean, almost transparent warmth. Quieter than frankincense, less sweet than Peru balsam -- a resin that works in the background.
Woody, peppery, and clean. Drier than Peru balsam, less smoky than myrrh, with none of the animalic depth of labdanum. Like holding a piece of freshly sanded tropical hardwood -- warm, faintly resinous, with a subtle spice that comes from its high beta-caryophyllene content.
Evolution over time
Immediately
Immediately
Clean, peppery-woody warmth. Transparent and mild, with a faint balsamic sweetness.
After a few hours
After a few hours
The pepper softens. Smooth, woody balsam emerges -- quiet, warm, and unobtrusive.
After a few days
After a few days
A subtle, clean woody-amber residue. Persistent but gentle.
Grades & Aging
Indicative 2025 wholesale prices.
The Full Story
Copaiba balm is an oleoresin tapped from trees of the genus Copaifera, primarily Copaifera officinalis and Copaifera langsdorffii, native to the tropical forests of South America. The terms copaiba and copahu are often used interchangeably, though some sources distinguish them by species or processing method.
The resin is dominated by beta-caryophyllene, a bicyclic sesquiterpene that constitutes 40-60% of the oil depending on species and origin. Other significant components include alpha-copaene, alpha-bergamotene, and beta-bisabolene. This sesquiterpene-heavy profile gives copaiba its characteristic transparency -- it is a balsam that reads as woody and peppery rather than sweet and sticky.
Steam distillation of the crude balsam yields copaiba essential oil, a pale yellow liquid with a mild, woody-balsamic odor. The oil is one of the least expensive natural fixatives available to perfumers, valued precisely because it extends the life of a composition without imposing a strong character of its own.
In formulation, copaiba anchors the base of amber, woody, and amber compositions. It blends smooth with other balsams (benzoin, tolu), woods (sandalwood, cedar), and spices (black pepper, cardamom). Its relative neutrality makes it a utility material -- more infrastructure than signature.
This note in Première Peau. Albâtre Sépia · Simili Mirage. Sample all seven extraits in the Discovery Set.
Copaifera trees can produce resin for decades when tapped sustainably. Some trees in the Brazilian Amazon have been tapped continuously for over 40 years, each producing 10-40 liters of balsam per year without significant damage to the tree.
Extraction & Chemistry
Extraction method: The oleoresin is collected by tapping (incising) the trunk of Copaifera trees. The crude balsam can then be steam-distilled to yield copaiba essential oil (CAS 8001-61-4 for balsam, 8013-97-6 for oil). Yield varies by species and tree age.
Complex oleoresin — key component: beta-Caryophyllene (C₁₅H₂₄, up to 50%)
CAS Number
8001-61-4
Botanical Name
Copaifera langsdorffii
IFRA Status
No known restrictions
Synonyms
Copaiba Oil, Copaiba Resin
Physical Properties
Odor Strength
High
Lasting Power
100 hours at 20.00%
Appearance
Dark amber to brown viscous liquid
Flash Point
>93°C
Specific Gravity
0.890–0.910 @ 25°C
Refractive Index
1.492–1.500 @ 20°C
In Perfumery
Base note and fixative in amber, woody, and amber compositions. Copaiba's primary function is structural: it anchors volatile materials and extends longevity without adding heavy sweetness or smokiness. Its high beta-caryophyllene content (40-60%) gives it a peppery transparency that works with benzoin, myrrh, sandalwood, and cedar. a cost-effective natural fixatives in the perfumer's palette, it works as infrastructure rather than signature.
