Balsam Fir Oleoresin
The Balsam Fir (Abies balsamea) is a North American fir, native to most of eastern and central Canada (Newfoundland west to central Alberta) and the northeastern United States (Wisconsin east to Maine, and south in the Appalachian Mountains to West Virginia). It is a small to medium-size evergreen tree typically 14-20 m tall, with a narrow conic crown. The bark on young trees is smooth, grey, and with resin blisters, becoming rough and fissured or scaly on old trees. The leaves are flat needle-like, 1.5-3 cm long. It is actually a turpentine, belonging to the class of oleoresins (natural products consisting of a resin dissolved in an essential oil), and not a balsam.
| Botanical Name: | Abies balsamea (L.) Mill. |
| Family: | Pinaceae |
| Synonyms: | Abies balsamifera, Pinus balsaameabalsam of fir, balsam fir, balsam tree, American silver fir, balm of gilead fir, Canada turpentine |
| See Also: | Canadian Balsam |
| Parts Used: | Balsam/resin |
| Extraction Method: | Raw material |
| Appearance: | Viscous yellowish to greenish liquid |
| Aroma Description: | Sweet, fir, woody, fir needle. |
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| Consistancy: | Thick |
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| Blends well with: | |
| Historical Uses: | |
| Modern Uses: | Perfumery |
| Cautions: | Sensitization |
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