Dry, woody-balsamic, with a faint violet-like softness. Gurjun balsam is a southeast Asian oleoresin -- less sweet than Peru balsam, less vanilla than benzoin, quietly woody and soft.
Dry, woody-balsamic, with a faint violet-like softness. Less sweet than Peru balsam, less vanillic than benzoin, with a quiet, self-effacing woody character. The guaiene-derived violet quality is subtle -- more a whisper than a statement. The overall impression is of warm, dry tropical wood with a gentle balsamic finish.
Evolution over time
Immediately
Immediately
Dry woody-balsamic, quiet, faint violet hint
After a few hours
After a few hours
Warm woody depth, gentle balsamic finish
After a few days
After a few days
Persistent dry-woody warmth, very quiet
Grades & Aging
Indicative 2025 wholesale prices.
The Full Story
Gurjun balsam is an oleoresin obtained from Dipterocarpus species -- large tropical hardwoods native to Southeast Asia (primarily India, Myanmar, and Indonesia). The balsam exudes from bark incisions and has been used as a wood finish, traditional medicine, and aromatic material. The essential oil is steam-distilled from the crude balsam.
The volatile profile is dominated by alpha-gurjunene and beta-gurjunene (sesquiterpenes giving a dry, woody character), with delta-guaiene and gamma-gurjunene contributing additional woody-balsamic qualities. The oil has a quiet, undemonstrative character: dry, slightly violet-like (from the guaiene content), and softly balsamic without the sweetness of benzoin or the vanillic warmth of Peru balsam.
In perfumery, gurjun balsam functions as a dry-woody fixative in the base zone. It extends compositions without adding overt sweetness. The note works in woody, oriental, and incense compositions as a quiet, supporting element.
This note in Première Peau. Albâtre Sépia · Simili Mirage. Sample all seven extraits in the Discovery Set.
Dipterocarpus trees -- the source of gurjun balsam -- are the dominant canopy trees of Southeast Asian rainforests, accounting for up to 80% of the emergent canopy in some Borneo and Sumatra forests. A single Dipterocarpus tree can produce over 100 litres of oleoresin per year when actively tapped.
Extraction & Chemistry
Extraction method: Steam distillation of crude oleoresin from Dipterocarpus species yields gurjun balsam oil. The balsam is collected by cutting a triangular blaze in the trunk and applying fire to stimulate flow. Oil yield from the crude balsam is approximately 40-70%.
Gurjun balsam is a dry-woody fixative in the base zone. Its sesquiterpene-heavy profile (alpha/beta-gurjunene, delta-guaiene) provides quiet woody depth with a faint violet-like softness. Less sweet than Peru balsam or benzoin. Works as a supporting element in woody, oriental, and incense compositions, extending them without adding overt sweetness.
