Siam Wood

NaturalWOODS & MOSSESwoody · creamy · warm

BasePyramid

—Strength

—Tenacity

1Origins

Specimen

Fokienia hodginsii (Dunn) A.Henry & H.H.Thomas

Definition

Siam wood is the essential oil obtained by distilling Fokienia hodginsii, the Fujian cypress. It has a pleasant, warm, creamy, woody-balsamic, opopanax/cedar-like aroma.

pemou oil, fokienia oil

Type: Ingredient
Olfactive family: Woods
Subfamily: Creamy woods
Cluster: Creamy woods
Source: wood
Chemical class: essential oil

Instruments

Pyramid

TTop

HHeart

BBase

Producing countries

Vietnam

Scent

Siam wood belongs to the earthy, woody aroma family. It has a clean, sweet-woody back note reminiscent of rosewood in the long dry down. Its odour is also described as woody, balsam, opoponax, cedar and floral. Its olfactory notes are also given as woody, acidulous and fresh.

In PREMIEREPEAU

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

Terroir & Maturity

The Full Story

The Tree

Fokienia hodginsii is a medium-sized tree, 25-30 m tall. Fokienia is a monotypic conifer genus in the cypress family, Cupressaceae, and Fokienia hodginsii is its only living species. The tree grows in south-eastern China, northern Laos and northern Vietnam. It occurs in ever-wet, often peaty mountain forest. Its IUCN conservation status is Vulnerable. It is considered an ecologically threatened species in Vietnam.

The Wood

The wood is very much like that of other cedars in the cypress family, with a fine, straight grain and a distinct aroma. In Vietnam it is considered a precious timber because of its characteristic aroma and its exceptional density. In Vietnam the timber is used to make art works, pieces of furniture, and charcoal of high heat value. Laotian and Dao tribesmen use the timber for wall partitioning or roofing. The timber was formerly used for coffins.

Chemistry

Gas chromatography of the oil identified alpha-pinene (24.89%) and limonene (8.46%) as its largest components, followed by beta-caryophyllene oxide (4.01%) and rimuene (3.22%). Elemol makes up 2.2% of the oil and trans-nerolidol 0.56%. Fokienol has the molecular formula C₁₇H₂₈O and a molecular weight of 248.4.

Uses and Handling

Siam wood oil is used in aromatherapy. It is soluble in 190 proof alcohol and in fractionated coconut oil, and not soluble in water.

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Related: Almond Tree · Ambrox Super · Amburana Wood · Amyris · Blonde Woods · Caoutchouc · Cashalox · Cashmir Wood

Extraction & Chemistry

Extraction method

Siam wood oil is obtained by distillation, especially of the root of the tree. The essential fokienia oil used in perfumery is distilled from old wood. The oil is steam distilled from wild-harvested wood.

Formula: Complex natural mixture (key constituents: alpha-pinene; limonene; beta-caryophyllene oxide)
CAS: 8022-47-7
Botanical: Fokienia hodginsii (Dunn) A.Henry & H.H.Thomas
Appearance: pale yellow viscous liquid
Synonyms: pemou oil, fokienia oil

IFRA status

See note

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

In Perfumery

Siam wood is classed as a base note. The oil is used in perfumery.

Role in the formula

01fixative

02modifier

03signature note

04volume builder

05freshness

Available as

essential oil