Benzoin
Styrax
benzoin
The resin of this tree
is Sun-associated (although some--including me--put it with Venus) and has been
used for millenia as an incense in a number of cultures. Benzoin is
calming, soothing, and restores confidence for the Work. This resin is
good for purification and works well with other scents and influences,
especially as a preservative. On the Kabbalistic Tree of Life, benzoin is the perfume
of Netzach. Stimulating and aphrodisiac, it
is an excellent ingredient in incense for love magick and was once a frequent ingredient in Eclectic
medicine. I now have two types of this resin. As shown in the picture, I have top quality benzoin from Thailand
in the form of "almonds." Thai or Siam benzoin
has a highly Venus nature with a wonderful vanilla scent when raw and a
very sweet, almost rose-like scent when burned. It actually comes from Laos, where it's an important
cottage industry and harvested from cultivated trees. The Sumatra
benzoin, in contrast, is dark grey and has much more of a storax scent and therefore,
to my mind, more of a Moon nature. Even raw
you can smell the storax components. In either form, this resin is also known
as gum benjamin, and many consider it to be the equivalent of "styrax"
(which I personally consider to be storax).
© 2006, 2013 Harold A. Roth; No reproduction without permission
Thai (Siam) Benzoin
10g $5.00
Uses in Witchcraft
& Magic:
Purification
Kabbalah
Love
Magic
Venus & Sun Incense