Liquidambar styraciflua from Central America

Scientific name: Liquidambar styraciflua
Family: Altingiaceae
Tradicional name: (Nahuatl) Ocotzocuahuitl
Distribution: Central America.

One of the reasons for my trip between June and July 2022 in Central America was to come into contact with some populations that extract the liquid resin of this beautiful tree. Unfortunately the journey was very long and difficult, having to get to the Oaxaca region in Mexico I didn’t have the chance to get to the production regions since the territories are in the Olancho department in the east of Honduras.
However, I was lucky enough to meet a representative of a community and thanks to my colleague in Guatemala to be able to create the practically direct commercial relationship.
Behind this resin there is a lot of confusion, especially its name, Storax which derives from a species native to Turkey, they obtained with a long and mysterious procedure the black Storax, which I am trying to recreate, appreciated since the ancient Egyptians, then widespread. in trade and also confused with benzoin, as the scientific name of the plant is Styrax benzoin, so Storace-Styrax is a snap to make a mess and large traders pay no attention to these trifles.
In fact the name on the title of the article is just to give a reference.

Pungent, sweetish, slightly balsamic aroma, it is not recommended to apply it directly to the charcoal but to convey it with other ingredients. Its best use, obviously in my opinion, is in blends to make sticks.

On this Wikipedia page there is a good description:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liquidambar_styraciflua