Amriys Oil

Amriys Oil

Amyris balsamifera

Amyris essential oil has a very tenacious, complex odor that quickly fades out to a subdued woody-balsamic aroma; it is valued as a well-known fixative, especially in soaps,1 and finds extensive application as a mild blender in numerous types of perfumes.2 Surprisingly, this tree is a member of the citrus (Rutaceae) family, but bears no fruit. However, it is of great value to locals who use it for firewood and, since the hard-grained, dense wood is heavy with aromatic resins, branches serve as excellent, bright-burning torches. The sedate density and resin-rich nature of Amyris tend to bring a sweet balsamic calm to those who envelop themselves with this oil.

Amyris is distilled from a small bushy tropical evergreen tree, Amyris balsamifera, indigenous to Haiti that also grows wild in the Bahoruco Forest of the Dominican Republic. It is in this forest where the environmentally friendly task widely known as ‘cleaning the forest floor’ of only dead, dry wood for distillation helps to prevent fires and gives young, green saplings a better chance to thrive. With the current rate of dead wood collection being monitored by the Dominican Ministry of the Environment, our supplier – distilling on-site for over 40 years – has been an exemplary steward of the Amyris forests, ensuring their sustainability for future generations.

Category: essential oils