Resin acids

Rosin acids (rosin acids) or resinolic acids are a heterogeneous group of carboxylic acids that occur in natural resins.

Their salts/esters are called resinates (also called rosinates or resin soaps). They are mainly found in conifer resins and belong to the group of diterpenes.

Besides the industrially important resin acids of conifers (diterpene acids), triterpene acids and derivatives of benzoic and cinnamic acid are also found. For all natural resins it is true that resin acids of different botanical origin also have different chemical structures.

Different resins contain cinnamic acid (acaroid resin) and benzoic acid (benzoin, frankincense, tolu balsam, Peru balsam) as well as benzyl and other esters of these acids.