Myroxylone pereirae resin (inci)

Myroxylon pereirae resin is an excretion product of the Peru balsam tree, which occurs on injured stems of Myroxylon pereira. The raw balsam is collected from the trees. Peru Balsam is used in cosmetic formulations. Furthermore, Peru Balsam used to be used medicinally on a large scale.

Balsam, ester mixture with numerous ingredients, especially benzoic acid and cinnamic acid. The mixture is also called cinnamein.

The balm forms a film on skin, hair or nails when applied. It also acts as a hair conditioning agent (makes the hair easy to comb, smooth, soft and shiny and gives it volume) and as a flavouring agent (reduces or inhibits the basic smell or taste of a product). In perfumes, Peru balsam provides a floral, heavy, oriental, sweetish note.

From an allergological point of view, this product should not be used because of its high contact allergic potency. In a larger control study with 3,065 patients with contact allergic dermatitis, fragrance sensitizations with n=506 (16.6%) ranked 2nd on the frequency scale after nickel sensitizations (Turić P et al. 2011).
258 patients (8.4%) were allergic to Myroxylon pereirae. 157 Peru Balsam sensitized patients were supplemented with Cinnamal,
Cinnamyl alcohol, Eugenol, Isoeugenol, Geraniol, Hydroxycitronellal, Alpha-amyl cinnamal and Everniaprunastri (oak moss). The most common allergens in this test series were Isoeugenol 91/157 (57.9%),
Eugenol 87/157(55.4%), Cinnamyl alcohol 54/157 (34.4%) and Evernia prunastri (oak moss) 38/157 (24.2%).

1. Pfützner W et al (2003) Systemic contact dermatitis elicited by oral intake of Balsam of Peru. Acta Derm Venereol 83: 294-295
2. Rudzki E et al (2006) 100 patients positive to balsam of Peru observed in Warsaw (Poland). Contact dermatitis 55: 255
3. Tan S et al (2011) Allergic contact dermatitis to Myroxylon pereirae (Balsam of Peru) in papaw ointment causing cheilitis. Australas J Dermatol 52: 222-223.
4. Turić P et al.(2011) Contact allergy caused by fragrance mix and Myroxylon pereirae (Balsam of Peru)--a retrospective study.Coll Antropol 35:83-87.