In short
Copaiba balsam is the oleoresin tapped from Copaifera trees in South America. Rich in beta-caryophyllene, it has a soft, woody and balsamic odour.
What Copaiba Balsam smells like
Copaiba balsam oil is warm, balsamic, spicy, peppery, metallic, woody and creamy, in Wikipedia's description; glossaries find it woody, peppery and clean, opening with a dry, peppery-woody transparency, quieter than frankincense and less sweet than Peru balsam. beta-Caryophyllene dominates the oil, though reported levels vary widely with species and origin. It is used mainly as a fixative, especially in soap perfumes.
- Leading note
- Soft peppery wood
- Clear facets
- Balsamic
- Supporting facets
- Creamy
- Faint facets
- Metallic
- Character
- Soft, dry, clean, quiet
What makes Copaiba Balsam distinctive
A balsam that hardly sweetens: dry, peppery wood that works in the background as a fixative.
Where the descriptions disagree: Reported beta-caryophyllene levels range from about 5% to over 50%, depending on species and origin.
How Copaiba Balsam is used
Used mainly as a fixative and woody blender, especially in soap perfumes, and in woody and amber compositions.
Typical role: blender (smooths the joins between other materials); fixative (slow to evaporate; helps a blend last and holds lighter notes).
How Copaiba Balsam differs from similar materials
- Peru Balsam Oil
- Peru balsam is rich vanilla and cinnamon; copaiba is a drier, less sweet, peppery-woody balsam. (compared directly by a cited source)
- beta-Caryophyllene
- beta-Caryophyllene is the oil's dominant constituent alone; copaiba adds a balsamic, creamy softness. (compared directly by a cited source)
- Gurjun Balsam Oil
- A forum perfumer finds gurjun reminiscent of copaiba, faintly sweet and pine-like; copaiba is drier and more peppery. (compared directly by a cited source)
An asterisk marks a difference that a cited source states directly. The others compare the published descriptions of each material. Smell varies with grade, supplier and dilution; compare them side by side on blotters before substituting one for another.
Formulation considerations
Also used to adulterate other oils; a high beta-caryophyllene reading in an oil that should not have one can point to it.
Identity and classification
- Type
- Resinoid
- Origin
- Natural
- Odour family
- Woody / Resinous
- Note position
- Base note
- Physical form at room temperature
- Viscous liquid
- Also known as
- Copaiba oleoresin
- Botanical source
- Copaifera spp.
- CAS number
- 8001-61-4
The CAS number was checked on 19 October 2026 against a PubChem substance record that gives it for this material. A natural material is a mixture, so it has no single formula; its composition varies with origin and processing.
Safety and compliance
This page is general information, not a safety assessment or a specification. Confirm identity, composition, IFRA status and allergen content from your supplier's documents for the lot you hold.
Materials it works with
-
beta-Caryophyllene
Aroma chemical · Spicy / Woody — spicy, woody, peppery, dry
-
Black Pepper Oil
Essential oil · Spicy / Woody — peppery, spicy, woody, fresh
-
Cedrol
Natural isolate · Woody / Musky — woody, cedar, faint, dry
-
Gurjun Balsam Oil
Essential oil · Woody / Resinous — woody, balsamic, dry, earthy
Used in formulas and accords
Used in 8 published formulas
Copaiba Balsam is an ingredient in 6 perfume formulas and 2 accords in the Formula & Accord Library.
Community formulas
RUŌOD House Originals
Original compositions by RUŌOD House.
Further reading
Questions about Copaiba Balsam
Is Copaiba Balsam natural or synthetic?
Copaiba Balsam is natural. It is a solvent extract of a natural resin, balsam or gum.
What is the CAS number of Copaiba Balsam?
8001-61-4, the registry number for the resinoid as a substance rather than a single molecule. It was checked against PubChem on 19 October 2026.
Which published formulas use Copaiba Balsam?
Copaiba Balsam is used in 8 published formulas in the RUŌOD Lab Formula & Accord Library, including Bright Resin Accord, Champaca Tea Room and Citrus Censer. Each is listed with a link under "Used in formulas and accords" on this page.
Sources
- PubChem — substance 135319709, checked 19 October 2026.
- Wikipedia — Copaiba — published perfumery reference.
- ChemicalBook — copaiba oil (CAS 8013-97-6) — odour database.
- Premiere Peau — Copaiba balm — published perfumery reference.
- Olfactory profile: the RUŌOD Lab team's synthesis of the published descriptions above, reviewed 21 October 2026. Evidence: more than one published description. Classification and the short description: revision 1. Descriptions of odour are judgement, not measurement.