Ingredient

Tincture of Benzoin

Styrax benzoin

Tincture of benzoin sounds like something you might find in an alchemist’s lab, doesn’t it? It has a soft, vanilla-like aroma and has been used for centuries to protect and soothe the skin.

What is tincture of benzoin?

Benzoin is a natural resin that can be collected from two types of styrax trees: Styrax benzoin, native to Sumatra, and Styrax tonkinensis, which grows in Southeast Asia. Although the words are often used interchangeably, resins differ from tree gum in that they contain higher quantities of essential oils, and are not soluble in water. Resin flows from tree trunks when they're injured as a liquid that hardens when exposed to the air, like a bandage that protects the tree from disease. Once collected, benzoin can be ground into a powder, refined with solvents to make a scented extract, or soaked in alcohol to obtain a tincture.

What are the benefits of tincture of benzoin?

• Tones
• Shiny hair
• Naturally preserves

Tincture of benzoin gives shine and condition to the hair, and is often recommended to protect delicate skin and help with minor wounds. Its sticky consistency creates a thin protective layer that minimises moisture loss, while its main chemical constituent, called benzoic acid, is thought to help limit bacteria growth. This makes it great both for sensitive spot-prone skin, and for naturally preserving products.

Where does Lush source tincture of benzoin?

Lush buy this ingredient from a UK based company, specialising in botanical extracts. They prepare the tincture from Sumatran benzoin, using ethanol as the solvent.