Ingredient Guide
Its formal name is Liquidamber, and it has leaves resembling those of a maple. Making incisions in the bark causes a gum resin to be secreted, with a cinnamon-like scent. It also has a balsamic character and is often used in leather notes.
What Does It Smell Like in Perfume?
Styrax as a fragrance material is a natural absolute or resinoid obtained from Liquidambar resin. Its rounded, sweet balsamic character is layered with woodiness, cinnamon-like spiciness, leather, floral and ambery notes, and a faint animalic quality, bringing warm, dark depth to a fragrance’s foundation. The similarly named benzoin is made from resin of the genus Styrax, so it has a different botanical source. Styrax is a natural resin extract, not a reconstructed leather accord made from multiple fragrance materials.
Choosing a fragrance with styrax
With styrax fragrances, consider the warmth of leather and the sweetness of resin. Fruit brings a different depth from moss or incense.
- Rounded leather: Osmanthus or amber may appeal if you enjoy a leathery scent softened by fruit.
- Resin and incense: Frankincense or labdanum adds darker depth beneath the sweetness.
- Complex layers: Adding flowers, spices or oakmoss introduces variation beyond the resin itself.
Two fragrances featuring styrax
Styrax (Headspace)
Styrax is layered with labdanum, amber and the apricot-like scent of osmanthus. It evokes warm leather rounded by fruit.
Memoir Woman (Amouage)
Styrax is combined with oakmoss, leather and labdanum, along with flowers, spices and frankincense. This is a complex scent of resin and leather layered with moss, incense and flowers.
Find your next fragrance
In Fragrance Finder, choose “Favorite fragrances & notes” on the home screen, then look for notes you enjoy under “Favorite notes”. Select from the available suggestions and press “Next”.
