Balsam Tolu

Balsam Tolu

Tolu balsam is a recent (non-fossil) resin that originates from South America (Columbia, Peru, Venezuela), similar to Balsam of Peru.

It is tapped from the living trunks of Myroxylon toluiferum (see "Myroxylon"). It is a brownish, sticky, semisolid mass.An essential oil is also distilled from the balsam. The balsam contains a fairly large amount of benzyl and cinnamyl esters of benzoic and cinnamic acid (benzyl benzoate, benzyl cinnamate)