Omumgorwa (Commiphora tenuipetiolata) from Namibia

Famiglia: Burseraceae

A true rarity from Namibia, the Omumgorwa or Bloustam resin is extracted from a variety of Commiphora (Commiphora tenuipetiolata).

A small tree sometimes with a shrubby habit, it has a smooth trunk with golden-yellow exfoliation and underneath it leaves some green-blue, showy plaques.

All the resins of this country that are for sale, at least in my shop, are collected by the Himba people.

Aroma; sweetish, with nuances of hazelnut and roasted cocoa, sometimes even coffee.
Like almost all water-soluble resins on direct coal it carbonizes, therefore it must be pulverized and however the powder on the charcoal quickly creates a black layer, it must be combined with other essences, it is interesting that in the combinations it makes the fragrances with honeyed notes.
Completely dilutable in water, therefore ideal for creating incenses in modeling paste such as cones, balls, it can replace (partly) gum arabic as a binder, an aromatic advantage.

It seems that the Himba use this resin as soap.

Other info: http://www.eaincense.com/commiphora-tenuipetiolata.html