elemi resin

Elemi is an oleoresin, meaning a semi-solid extract composed of resin and essential oil (oleo from latin oleum meaning olive oil). Oleoresins are highly concentrated substances that appear in liquid form. Elemi is a bit special because given its hardening when exposed to air, it doesn’t come out as a liquid substance.

In aromatherapy, elemi is basically a granny’s remedy. It can heal your skin’s wounds, reduce scars, and treat coughing and bronchitis. It even helps with digestive, respiratory and nervous atony.

Overall, it acts as a very efficient herbal medicine to cure more things you could probably think of from anti-inflammatory to analgesic benefits! Already recognized for its therapeutic value by our ancestors, its spiritual dimension has made it a long-time friend of meditation.

This wild crafted elemi resin from Philippines is not overly aromatic if you smell it neat, maybe bitter and terpenic at best. However added to the oil burner** the aroma exudes a melody of fresh, lemony sweet, balsamic, and somewhat woody qualities. Within the opening I also detect nuances of bitter almond along with mint and in the heart fleeting trace notes of a musky and incense character.

This material will dilute down fine in alcohol (mostly) should you wish to create a tincture however the end result will be somewhat sticky and as such if you can acquire it I would advise the tincture is made with benzyl benzoate as this results in a far less sticky end material ( I hope to eventually be able to offer this at Hermitage). 

This is a very interesting fixative for artificial bergamot, lemon, lime, etc., as well as for the various verbena compositions, e.g. eau de verveine bases and other cologne types. In lavender colognes, fougeres, spicy colognes, etc., it simultaneously introduces freshness  and fixation.

Enjoy!