Illurin Balsam

#### Illurin Balsam. ##### Synonyms: Ilurin Balsam, Niger Balsam, "African Copaiba". There are several products which are called **Illurin**** ****Balsam**, although they are only occasionally offered on today's market. True "Illurin balsam" is a natural oleoresin formed as a physiological product in the trunk of certain West African leguminosae, related to **Copaifera**** **(see **Copaiba Balsam). **It is possible that **Daniella Thurifera **is one of the parent trees to this "balsam". The name **Illurin **is derived from the commercial centre (Ilorin) of the southwestern corner of the northern province of Nigeria. This big city is on the Kano-Lagos road, but not on the river Niger itself. The **Illurin Balsams **were usually shipped to London from Lagos (on the "Niger coast"). Hence the name **Ulurin **balsam or **Niger **balsam. Another natural oleoresin, derived from a related tree, is known as **Hardwickia Balsam**, and occasionally sold as Niger balsam. The two products are quite similar in appearance and odor. See also **Gurjun Balsam. **A balsam (oleoresin) has been obtained from the tree **Oxystigma**** ****Mannii**** **years ago. This product served as a source of beta-**Caryophyllene**, the main constituent of this oleoresin. **Illurin Balsam **is a dark amber colored to brownish, viscous liquid, occasionally turbid or opalescent. The odor is sweet-woody, balsamic, very pleasant, uniform and tenacious. Certain lots show more "burnt" or phenolic, tarlike odors than others; however, as mentioned above, the product is a physiological one, and it is not produced by burning, boiling, heating, cutting or otherwise damaging the tree. The rough odor is probably due to a difference in origin. A number of related species of the tree grow in various parts of West Africa. Many of these trees are exploited for "balsam". **Illurin Balsam **has become a scarce and rare item, but it could find use in perfumery as a blender for ionones and many other synthetic materials which may need a natural blender or "rounder-off". The oleoresin blends well with cedarwood, nitromusks, isobornylacetate, amyl salicylate, orris resin, vetiver oil, cinnamic alcohol, oakmoss products, lavandin oil, etc. etc. It could probably do well as an extender in low-cost perfumes for certain types of household products, insecticides, deodorants, industrial perfumes, etc. Illurin balsam has served as an adulterant for **Copaiba**** ****Balsam**, but more recently, there have been cases where Copaiba Balsam has been sold as **Illurin**** ****Balsam**. This gives some indication about the scarcity of the African product. The "balsam" contains a very high amount of essential oil which can be distilled from the "balsam" with steam. This oil is very rarely offered in a true and pure state. Illurin Balsam Oil is a pale amber or almost colorless liquid of a soft, mellow and pleasant, woody-sweet, later on somewhat dry odor of good tenacity. If available, the **Illurin**** ****Balsam**** ****Oil**** **would be interesting to use in the reconstruction of certain essential oils, e.g. spice oils, ylang-ylang, etc. The oil would be an excellent blender and extender in many bases where a high amount of synthetic components produce "sharp" notes or "rough" corners in the odor of the perfume base. However, with **Copaiba Balsam Oil **readily available at a very reasonable cost, there will probably never be a substantial demand for Illurin Balsam Oil although the latter has definite advantages in odor softness and tenacity over the former.