The Peru Balsam purified oleoresin is used in aromatherapy to help relieve colds and cough. In perfumery, it is used as a bottom note for its hot, smoky, woody, cinnamon, vanilla and caramel fragrance. It dissolves in ethyl alcohol and can be used to infuse your carrier oils. It is found in powdery Eastern fragrances and has a warm, mild and bewitching scent that inspires travel.
IMPORTANT: THIS ESSENTIAL OIL IS NATURALLY THICK (High viscosity)
You shake the bottle, it flows very slowly or nothing comes out of the dropper and you think: Something is wrong with my oil!
Don't worry, this is normal (can vary from batch to batch) and is a guarantee of quality. So patience is needed.
HOW TO LIQUEFY A THICK ESSENTIAL OIL
- Warm the bottle in your hand. Sometimes heating the bottle will not help, so please tap the bottom of the bottle as this can help release the oil.
If that doesn't work:
- Place the bottle in a small ziploc bag and empty the air as much as possible (to protect the label and to prevent the bag from floating), then put the bag in a larger container of hot water (not boiling) to warm it gently for about 5 to 10 minutes. And that's it, it comes out of the dropper!
- This procedure will have to be repeated each time before use because the oil will become thick again.
- Avoid using a microwave oven as it may overheat and deteriorate the oil.
- Tips and tricks: You can remove the dropper and use a pipette to extract drops or a toothpick, a needle to extract the desired amount from the bottle.
EXTRACTION METHOD - Oleoresin harvested in a sustainable process
ODOUR - Mild cinnamon, vanilla and caramel, woody
COLOUR - Red brown to deep brown
NPN - 80077008
Instructions
Topical (adults) Mix 1 drop in 1 tablespoon (15ml) of Ethyl Alcohol; apply locally 3 times a day. Inhalation (Adults) Apply 1 to 6 drops of undiluted Peru Balsam Oleoresin onto a tissue and inhale occasionally, up to 3 times a day.
Warning (Health Canada)
FOR EXTERNAL AND OCCASIONAL USE ONLY. DO NOT TAKE ORALLY. DO NOT USE ESSENTIAL OILS UNDILUTED. KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN. If accidental ingestion occurs, seek urgent medical attention or contact a Poison Control Center. Avoid contact with eyes and mucous membranes; if this happens, rinse thoroughly with vegetable oil. Do not use if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. If you have epilepsy or asthma, consult a health care practitioner prior to use. May cause allergic reaction (e.g. skin rashes, irritation, dermatitis, irritation of the respiratory tract); in which case, discontinue use and consult a health care practitioner. If nausea, dizziness, headache or allergic reactions occur, discontinue use. If you have a history of eczema, abnormal skin reactions, or a tendency to develop allergic reactions, do not use this product. Not for use on inflamed, broken, irritated or sensitive skin or if suffering from dermatitis. Avoid exposing treated area to sunlight. Consult a health care practitioner if symptoms worsen or persist.
History
The Balsam of Peru is a lanky, 15 to 20-metre-tall tree covered with a greyish bark, found in San Salvador, Colombia and in Venezuela that was once traded through Peru (hence its name). Today, the main exporter is Salvador, where the tree grows at altitudes of 600 to 1,500 metres, especially in the country’s southwestern mountain chain, Cordillera del Balsamo. The Balsam of Peru is the thick brown resin collected from its upper trunks by hand in a very acrobatic fashion, according to tradition.
