Is Siam natural or synthetic?

A fantasy or concept note, not a single material.

Siam

AccordWOODS & MOSSESwoody · rich · warm

BasePyramid

3/5Strength

400hTenacity

4Origins

Editorial noteWe own no rights to this material, its name or its trademark. This entry is independent editorial journalism, published under freedom of expression.

Specimen

Styrax tonkinensis

Fantasy/Concept

Definition

Warm, resinous, faintly balsamic wood with an exotic, Southeast Asian character. Siam in perfumery carries Thai and Indochinese timbers -- benzoin-adjacent, spiced, tropical.

SWEET BALSAMIC WARM RESINOUS

Siam wood, Siamese wood

Type: Accord
Olfactive family: Woods
Subfamily: Classic woods
Cluster: Earthy woods

Instruments

Pyramid

TTop

HHeart

BBase

3/5Strength

Medium

odour strength

Tenacity on blotter

400hours · 17 days

1 h6 h24 h3 d7 d400 h

at 20 %

Producing countries

Cambodia Laos Thailand Vietnam

Scent

Warm, sweet-resinous, balsamic-woody. The benzoin Siam provides a vanilla-tinged sweetness; the wood elements add structure; the faint spice provides cultural specificity. Richer than Japanese hinoki, sweeter than Indian sandalwood, with a tropical warmth that reads as Southeast Asian.

In PREMIEREPEAU

DISCOVERY SET7 × 2 ml →EXTRAIT DE PARFUMThe seven extraits →

The Full Story

Siam in perfumery is an atmospheric-woody accord referencing the historical name for Thailand and, by extension, the aromatic materials of mainland Southeast Asia. The note carries the warm, resinous-balsamic character of Siamese benzoin (Styrax tonkinensis), teak (Tectona grandis), and the tropical hardwoods of Indochina.

The accord is typically built from benzoin Siam (sweet, vanillic-balsamic), warm wood elements (teak, cedarwood), and a faint spice trace (clove, cinnamon) referencing the spice-trade heritage of the region. The result is warm, exotic, and resinous -- a wood cabinet in a Bangkok temple.

Functionally, Siam works as a warm, resinous-woody base note with Southeast Asian specificity. It provides a geographic-cultural reference distinct from Indian, Middle Eastern, or Japanese wood accords.

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Related: Alder · Alpha Humulene · Amaranth · Amberever · Amburana Bark · Antillone · Apple Tree

Extraction & Chemistry

Extraction method

The Siam accord uses individual components: benzoin Siam (solvent extraction of Styrax tonkinensis resin), teak or cedarwood oils, and spice elements. No single 'Siam' extraction exists.

Formula: N/A - complex natural resin (key: coniferyl benzoate)
Botanical: Styrax tonkinensis
Appearance: brown viscous liquid
Odour strength: Medium
Lasting power: 400 hours at 20.00%
Synonyms: Siam wood, Siamese wood

IFRA status

See note

Not subject to an IFRA Standard (51st Amendment)

Physical properties

Flash point: > 212.00 °F. TCC ( > 100.00 °C. )

In Perfumery

Siam is a warm, resinous-woody base note with Southeast Asian specificity. Built from benzoin Siam (Styrax tonkinensis), warm tropical woods, and faint spice (clove, cinnamon). Geographic-cultural reference distinct from Indian or Japanese woods. Works in amber, incense, and Southeast Asian-themed compositions.

Role in the formula

01modifier

02signature note

03blender

04volume builder

05freshness

Available as

essential oil