gum resin that is not normally produced by the tree of this species.
It is only created when there is damage to the trunk, and so to harvest benzoin, one must first hack at the trunk with a machete or an axe.
The benzoin tree is native to Sumatra and surrounding regions.
High-quality benzoin has a distinctive vanilla aroma, though some varieties are almost rose-like.
Latin: Styrax benzoin
Common Names: Gum benzoin, styrax gum
As will all resins or gums, you will need charcoal blocks if you want to burn this as an incense.
Like most resins, benzoin is burned to purify a space. It's also used with psychic work, specifically astral projection. Simply burning benzoin as an incense will help calm a space and bring positive energy to any area.
Benzoin is a preservative in some oil recipes, and is also used as a stabilizer when making home-made incense. Very handy stuff. If you cannot find benzoin, you can use gum mastic or gum arabic instead (though they might be just as difficult to get anyway).
Planet: Sun
Element: Air
incense and essential oils: astral projection, purification
