Amyris oil is an amber-coloured oil with a woody aroma, derived from the bark of the Balsam Torchwood (Amyris balsamifera).

Amyris balsamifera is an evergreen tree in the citrus family (Rutaceae) cultivated in the West Indies and in Central and South America. Trees grow to around 8 meters tall and produce clusters of small white flowers. Amyris balsamifera is in a group known as ‘Torchwoods’, named for their fragrant flammable resin and used historically as torch material.

Amyris lumber is often used for furniture making or firewood, while the twigs and bark are preserved for oil production. The harvested bark is dried and then undergoes a process of steam distillation to extract the oil. Amyris oil is used in fragrances, varnishes, cosmetics, soaps and incenses for its smoky-woody aroma. Though it is known to have a similar fragrance to sandalwood (Santalum album), the two species are unrelated and their oils have different compositions.

Botanical name: Amyris balsamifera

Other names: Amyris Balsamifera Bark Oil, West Indian Sandalwood Oil, West Indian Rosewood Oil

Main constituents: beta-Sesquiphellandrene, Elemol, 10-Epi-gamma-Eudesmol, gamma-Eudesmol, Valerianol, alpha-Eudesmol, 7-Epi-alpha-Eudesmol, beta-Eudesmol