Elemi Gum from Manila 100g

The name "elemi" refers to the somewhat soft aromatic oleoresinous material collected in the Philippine Islands from one or more species of Canarium, principally Luzonicum Canarium. There are other resins offered under the name elemi, but these are usually qualified by the name of the place from which they were imported. In the fresh state, elemi resin is a mixture of resins with some essential oil, light in color, soft and somewhat slimy. The elemi's softness indicates how much essential oil is present. The odor of elemi is reminiscent of a mixture of lemon and turpentine. The fresh oleoresin contains 20 to 30% of an essential oil which is composed mainly of hydrocarbons, of which the terpene phellandrene is the principal one. The non-volatile resin consists largely of two easily crystallizing compounds known as alpha-amyrin and beta-amyrin. Elemi resin was once used to a considerable extent in the medical field, as an ingredient in various ointments and plasters, but today this has completely ceased and it is mainly employed in the preparation of printing inks and violin varnishes.