Tolu Resinoid

Natural Ingredient Overview

• 🏭 Manufacturer: Various (standardized solvent extraction)

• 🔎 Botanical Name: Myroxylon balsamum var. balsamum

• 📂 CAS N°: Complex extract (not single CAS)

• 📘 FEMA: 3063

• ⚖️ MW: Complex mixture; not defined as a single molecule

• 📝 Odor Type: Balsamic

• 📈 Odor Strength: Medium-high

• 👃🏼 Odor Profile: Sweet balsamic, vanillic, cinnamic, woody, faintly floral

• ⚗️ Uses: Fixative, base note in Oriental, Chypre, Amber, exotic floral accords

• 🧴 Appearance: Brown, semi-solid resinous material

What is Tolu Resinoid?

Tolu Resinoid is the solvent-extracted aromatic concentrate from the balsam of Myroxylon balsamum var. balsamum, obtained mainly from Colombia and Venezuela. The raw balsam is exuded from bark incisions and collected in liquid form, then processed via volatile solvent extraction and dewaxing. The final material is a resinous, viscous mass with intense aromatic potency.

Chemically, Tolu Resinoid is a complex natural mixture, composed primarily of cinnamic acid and esters, benzoic acid derivatives, vanillin, and minor amounts of phenolic and terpenic fractions. Unlike Peru Balsam, it shows a softer, sweeter aromatic warmth, often evoking tonka bean, cinnamon, and vanilla-like balsamic accords, with lower earthy or smoky intensity.

Olfactory Profile & Perfumery Applications

Tolu Resinoid contributes a persistent and rounded base in perfumery compositions. Its sweet-balsamic signature, with cinnamic and vanillic core tones, gives it affinity for a wide range of fragrance families, especially:

• Oriental (ambery, gourmand, spiced blends)

• Chypre (supportive warmth for moss and patchouli bases)

• Exotic florals (e.g., ylang, heliotrope, carnation)

• Amber blends, often in synergy with Benzoin, Opoponax, and Peru Balsam

Functionally, Tolu Resinoid behaves as a tenacious fixative, enhancing diffusion, richness, and warmth in both fine and functional perfumery. It is rarely used alone but excels in layered balsamic bases, offering olfactory volume without overwhelming other components.

Industrial & Technical Uses

Beyond its role in fine fragrance, Tolu Resinoid also appears in:

• Flavoring (FEMA 3063) at trace levels in vanilla, spice, or cola-type flavor bases

• Traditional medicinal preparations (e.g., aromatic syrups and balms)

• Perfumed candles and incense blends, where it lends resinous character and fixative properties

• Specialty coatings and adhesives (historical use; rare in modern industry)

Its low volatility and soft diffusion make it ideal for long-lasting scent in ambient and topical formulations, though care must be taken with leave-on skin applications due to mild sensitization risk in sensitive users.

Regulatory & Safety Overview

• IFRA: Not restricted under IFRA 51st Amendment

• EU Allergen Declaration (Annex III EC No 1223/2009):
  May contain:

  • Benzyl benzoate

  • Cinnamic acid / cinnamyl alcohol / cinnamaldehyde

  • Vanillin
    These must be labeled if present above 0.001% (leave-on) or 0.01% (rinse-off)

• FEMA GRAS: FEMA 3063 — approved for food use in trace quantities

• REACH / ECHA: Not classified as hazardous; natural complex substance

• Toxicology: No significant acute toxicity; sensitization possible at higher concentrations

✅ Suitable for perfumery use under normal dosage; avoid high levels in leave-on products without testing.

Additional Information

While sometimes labeled as a single material, Tolu Resinoid is a multi-constituent system, meaning variability in profile based on extraction solvent, dewaxing process, and origin. Modern perfumery often uses standardized or rectified grades for better formulation control.

Tolu’s historical applications in medicine—as a component of cough syrups, antiseptic balms, and aromatic expectorants—underscore its pharmacological legacy. While largely replaced by synthetics in such uses, this legacy persists in its olfactory associations with warmth, sweetness, and aromatic comfort.

Sources

• Perfume and Flavor Chemicals, S. Arctander, 1961

• FEMA GRAS Database – Entry 3063

• Fulvio Ciccolo — Internal Notes, 2022–2024

• ECHA Substance Info – Natural Extracts

• Scentspiracy Archive – Balsamic Fixatives

• PubChem Profile — Complex Balsam Extracts