Amber Oil

#### Amber Oil. **Amber Oil, crude: **This essential oil is produced by destructive (dry) distillation of **Amber **at atmospheric pressure. **Amber**** **is one of the oldest and hardest fossil resins, exuded millions of years ago, presumably from Pinus Succinifera, a fir. The fossil resin, which is odorless, is found on the shores of the Baltic Sea, particularly in Poland, eastern Germany, and also along the North Sea coasts in Denmark, Holland, and England. A further quantity of Amber is obtained by mining. Amber pieces which are unfit for jewelry as well as dust and residues from the gem industry, etc. are submitted to dry distillation in order to yield the so-called **Succinol **or **Crude Amber**** ****Oil. **Crude (or pyroligneous) **Amber Oil **is a dark amber-colored or brownish, but clear oily liquid. Its odor is smoky, tarlike, resinous, with a distinct resemblance to the odor of tanned leather. The crude oil finds some application in perfumery where it blends excellently with labdanum, castoreum, ionones, amylsalicylate, etc. and it is sweetened with cananga oil, benzylsalicylate, zingerone, etc. for typical "leather" bases, e.g. in men's colognes and after-shaves. **Amber Oil, rectified: **This oil is produced by steam distillation of the crude, pyroligneous amber oil. The steam distilled oil is a pale yellow and clear liquid with a peculiar burnt-woody, somewhat camphoraceous odor, reminiscent of the "still-note" in certain fresh-distilled fir and spruce needle oils. The odor also resembles that of crude pine oil with a kerosene-styrene topnote. Rectified **Amber Oil **finds very little use in perfumery. Under the name of **Retinol**, an oil is distilled from various resins, particularly from **Pine**** ****Rosin**** **(= colophony). These oils are used as solvents, e.g. for phosphorus. They find some use in pharmaceutical preparations.