Copaiba Balsam Oil
Copaifera species
Odour
Similar to that of the balsam, but much milder, sweeter, almost creamy-balsamic with a faint peppery-spicy undertone. Notes which resemble furfuryl alcohol and cadinene, others may remind of the notes in Peru balsam oil. A very peculiar and complex, but very faint odor.
Blends well with
amylcinnamic aldehyde
cananga
heliotropine
hydroxy-citronellal
ionones
isoeugenol
jasmin absolute
methylionones
sandalwood oil
vanillin
ylang-ylang
See also
Used as a blend partner in
Notes
Main use is as a blender-modifier. Fixative value is negligible. Low cost and good availability. Used in reproduction of certain essential oils and to correct physico-chemical properties. Unlikely to arouse particular interest - only low price keeps it from obsolescence.
Full Arctander text
#### Copaiba Balsam Oil.
An essential oil is obtained by direct distillation (dry, in vacuum) of **Copaiba "Balsam" **(see previous monograph). It is customary to select the copaibas which contain a very high percentage of volatile oil for this purpose (Para balsams). Such balsams are less appreciated as commercial copaiba balsam since they dry out more slowly and yield less resin. For the same reason, they are poorer fixatives in perfumery, and thus the low-oil copaibas find their way into perfumery and porcelain-painting, etc., while the high-oil copaibas are distilled. Brazilian copaibas are in the latter category, Venezuelan copaibas in the former.
**Copaiba**** ****"Balsam"**** ****Oil**** **(or **Copaiba**** ****Oil) **is a colorless or pale yellow to yellow-green or bluish, very mobile oil. The odor is similar to that of the "balsam", but much milder, sweeter, almost creamy-balsamic with a faint peppery-spicy undertone. There are notes which resemble furfuryl alcohol and cadinene, others may remind of the notes in Peru balsam oil. A very peculiar and complex, but very faint odor.
**Copaiba**** ****Oil**** **finds some use in perfumery, but its fixative value is negligible and its contribution to the overall odor of a fragrance is questionable. Its main use is that of a blender-modifier. It blends well with cananga, ylang-ylang, heliotropine, hydroxy-citronellal, isoeugenol, vanillin, ionones and methylionones, sandalwood oil, jasmin absolute (!), amylcinnamic aldehyde, etc. The oil is used in pine fragrances, woody bases, violet perfumes, spice fragrances, etc., and its low cost and good availability makes it popular for some of these purposes. However, it is still missing from many a perfumer's shelf, and it is unlikely that the oil will ever arouse any particular interest. Only its low price will keep it from becoming completely obsolete.
**Copaiba "Balsam" Oil **can be used in the "reproduction" of certain essential oils and to "correct" the physico-chemical properties of such oils. In this respect, **Gurjun**** ****Balsam**** **has been even more outstanding.