Liquidambar orientalis from Turkey

Scientific name: Liquidambar orientalis
Family: Altingiaceae ( ex Hamamelidaceae)
Local name: Sweet gum
Origin: Turkey

This is a resin that has a thousand-year history, sought after by priests and perfumers of ancient Egypt, perhaps one of the first products that became part of both medicinal and embalming balms, subsequently appreciated by the Greeks and many other populations of the ancient Persia.
Fallen into disuse for reasons of excessive extraction, it is now a locally protected plant, anthropization and excessive cutting for production has decimated the forests of this fascinating tree.
With the journey I undertook in August 2023, I tried to shed light on this product, where the famous black styrax was obtained, a process of maceration of bark, resin and other things not well known because it was a secret that families handed down. unfortunately there is no longer anyone who produces it, perhaps due to the excessive cost of processing, and now it is easily reproducible with laboratory essences, much cheaper, but certainly without a soul.
Only workers authorized by the Turkish government can extract the resin, to such an extent that the trees are numbered and it is not possible to extract from others. It seems that the country manages to produce only a few tons a year which is given to perfume companies, mostly in France and given to local companies or small firms for resale.
I was lucky and honored to know a small family-run business that will be able to supply me with this product in the future.

Pungent, acidic aroma due to the presence of volatile molecules such as benzoic acid and styrene.
Upon first contact with this resin it is possible to have a feeling of destabilization due to the very spicy aroma, almost similar to a fuel such as petrol or kerosene, but matured on the skin or left in the air for a few minutes it immediately transforms into something unexpected , sweet, floral, spicy.