What does Tolu Balsam smell like?
Tolu balsam smells of soft vanilla, cinnamon and an almost caramelized resin. It may remind you of old-fashioned cough syrup, which used to contain it. It is less sugary than vanilla alone and airier than benzoin. In a perfume you rarely notice it as a separate note. It thickens the base and makes it feel warm. It lasts very well on skin.
Origin and production
The balsam comes from Myroxylon balsamum, a tall tree of tropical South America, notably Colombia and Venezuela. It is named after Santiago de Tolú, the Colombian port it was shipped from. The trunk is cut so the resin can flow out. It hardens in the air. For perfumery it is turned into a resinoid or absolute by solvent extraction. Peru balsam comes from a close variety of the same tree.
How perfumers use it
Tolu balsam fixes and binds amber bases. Yves Saint Laurent Opium pour Homme blends it with myrrh and vanilla. Givenchy Gentleman Eau de Parfum sets it beside benzoin and black vanilla. Reminiscence Patchouli and Patchouli Homme use it to soften a very earthy patchouli. Kenzo Power places it under light florals, with cedar and labdanum.
How to wear it
Tolu balsam is an autumn and winter note. Perfumes built on it last a long time, often into the evening. One or two sprays on the chest under a sweater are enough.