The Ingredient Library
Gurjun Balsam
Dipterocarpus turbinatus
Gurjun balsam oil is steam-distilled from the oleoresin of tall Dipterocarpus trees in South and Southeast Asia, collected from cavities cut into the trunk and warmed with a small fire.
Get to know Gurjun Balsam
- Source
- Trunk oleoresin
- Origin
- India, SE Asia
- Extraction
- Steam-distilled
- Aroma
- Woody, balsamic, soft
What it is
Gurjun Balsam is an aromatic essential oil distilled from the plant.
Why it belongs in your routine
Woody, balsamic oil from the tapped resin of Asian gurjun trees.
How to use
Always dilute in a carrier oil before it touches skin. Never use undiluted. Patch test first.
Where Gurjun Balsam comes from
Gurjun, Dipterocarpus turbinatus, is a very tall tropical tree of the dipterocarp family, often reaching 30 to 45 metres with a straight, clean trunk. It grows in the forests of north-east India, Bangladesh, Myanmar and parts of Indochina. Its name comes from Greek for two-winged fruit: each seed hangs between two long papery wings that spin as they fall.
Gurjun balsam oil is pale yellow to amber and somewhat viscous, with a soft, woody and balsamic scent. It is made up mainly of sesquiterpenes, especially alpha-gurjunene and caryophyllene. Perfumers use it as a mild fixative that rounds out woody and resinous notes, and it appears in soaps, perfumes, beard oils and diffuser blends.
Sourcing & extraction
How Gurjun Balsam is sourced and extracted
Why it is rare
The oleoresin is tapped from mature forest trees rather than plantations, and each tree gives a slow flow that has to be collected every week or two. Tappers must rest trees to keep them producing, which limits how much balsam reaches the stills.
How it is gathered
Dipterocarp oleoresin is typically collected by forest villagers who tap the same trees over many years. A cavity is cut into the trunk a little above the ground, and a small fire of twigs or leaves is lit inside it to melt the hardened surface resin and restart the flow. The liquid balsam is ladled out every one to two weeks, poured into cans and carried to traders.
How it is made
Steam-distilled from the oleoresin
- Tappers cut a cavity into the lower trunk of a mature gurjun tree with a hatchet.
- A small fire of twigs is lit in the cavity to soften old resin, and fresh balsam seeps out.
- The liquid oleoresin is ladled into cans every week or two and carried out of the forest.
- The balsam is steam-distilled, and the oil is separated from the condensed water and filtered.
How to use Gurjun Balsam
- Add a few drops to a diffuser for its aroma.
- For skin, dilute 1 to 2 drops in a teaspoon of carrier oil before applying.
- Keep away from eyes and never use undiluted on skin.
For external use only. Patch test on a small area before first use and stop if irritation occurs. If you are pregnant, nursing or have a medical condition, ask a healthcare professional before use.
From ingredient to routine
Products with Gurjun Balsam
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Questions about Gurjun Balsam
Where does Gurjun Balsam come from?
Dipterocarp oleoresin is typically collected by forest villagers who tap the same trees over many years. A cavity is cut into the trunk a little above the ground, and a small fire of twigs or leaves is lit inside it to melt the hardened surface resin and restart the flow. The liquid balsam is ladled out every one to two weeks, poured into cans and carried to traders.
How is Gurjun Balsam extracted?
Steam-distilled from the oleoresin. Tappers cut a cavity into the lower trunk of a mature gurjun tree with a hatchet. A small fire of twigs is lit in the cavity to soften old resin, and fresh balsam seeps out. The liquid oleoresin is ladled into cans every week or two and carried out of the forest. The balsam is steam-distilled, and the oil is separated from the condensed water and filtered.
Why is Gurjun Balsam considered rare?
The oleoresin is tapped from mature forest trees rather than plantations, and each tree gives a slow flow that has to be collected every week or two. Tappers must rest trees to keep them producing, which limits how much balsam reaches the stills.
