From the mixing studio - July 2021

This month we get a bit more sophisticated, with the inclusion of some less commonly used essential oils, namely Peru Balsam and Myrrh.

You may have heard of balsamic notes in perfumery.

This term simply describes something that exudes a fragrance that is sweet, warm, resinous. Vanilla is probably the best known essential oil in this category, but you may not be so familiar with Peru Balsam. It is very similar in scent to Vanilla but is extracted differently by using cloth to soak up the oleoresin after strips of bark are removed from the trunk of the Myroxylon balsamum tree. After several weeks the cloth is removed, boiled and pressed. The balsam sinks to the bottom of the liquid, an aromatic dark-brown oily fluid, which has to be warmed before we can work with it in the mixing studio. Peru balsam is native to Central America and ours is wild harvested in El Salvador from majestic trees that produce gorgeous fragrant flowers and grow up to 120 ft tall, often providing useful shade in coffee plantations.

Much like Vanilla, Peru Balsam blends well with the tartness of grapefruit, to produce quite a woody, masculine fragrance. We have enhanced our blend with the addition of Myrrh. You will have heard of this mystical and magical oil as it is deeply historic. The word "murr" is Arabic for bitter, as the resin from the Myrrh tree is indeed bitter, smokey, sweet, and to me reminiscent of churches.

As a final flourish we have added a familiar and floral note with a touch of Rose Absolute, and a little bit of a lighter floral note with Rose geranium.

We hope you enjoy it as much as we did mixing it...and please head over to our Facebook group to let us know what you think.

Ingredients: Peru Balsam - Grapefruit - Myrhh - Rose Absolute - Rose Geranium