Amyris Essential Oil (Amyris balsamifera)

Steam distilled from the wood of Amyris balsamifera, Amyris Essential Oil is a smooth, woody aromatic valued for its softness, warmth and excellent fixative qualities. Although sometimes called “West Indian Sandalwood”, it is botanically unrelated to true sandalwood, with its own distinctive dry, balsamic and gently smoky character.

Its aroma is subtle and elegant rather than overpowering, making it especially useful for adding depth and longevity to natural perfumes. Amyris works beautifully beneath florals, citrus, resins and spice notes, helping to soften sharper edges while giving blends a calm, grounded finish.

Why you’ll love it:

• Soft woody aroma with balsamic and smoky nuances
• Excellent natural base note and fixative
• A gentle sandalwood-style material without being true sandalwood
• Perfect for perfumes, candles, soaps and massage blends

• Opening: soft dry wood
• Heart: balsamic warmth with gentle sweetness
• Base: smoky, resinous and lightly earthy
• Strength: Soft to Medium
• Perfume note: Base

A quiet, grounding wood note that adds smoothness, depth and lasting power to botanical blends.

• Perfumery: Use as a soft woody base note or natural fixative. Blends beautifully with lavender, bergamot, rose, jasmine, ylang ylang, frankincense, myrrh, patchouli, vetiver, cedarwood and benzoin.
• Aromatherapy: Add 1–2 drops to 10 ml carrier oil for massage or evening blends.
• Diffuser: Use 2–5 drops with citrus, lavender or resins to create a warm, calming atmosphere.
• Soap & candles: Excellent for grounding floral and citrus compositions and improving scent longevity.

Blends beautifully with

Lavender, Bergamot, Sweet Orange, Ylang Ylang Complete, Rose Damask, Jasmine Sambac, Frankincense, Myrrh, Benzoin, Patchouli, Vetiver, Cedarwood Atlas, Sandalwood Australian and Tonka Bean.

Botanical

Amyris balsamifera

Common name

Amyris

Plant part

Wood

Extraction

Steam distilled

Appearance

Pale yellow to amber liquid

Perfume note

Base

Solubility

Oil-soluble

Gabriella Oils Evaluation

A soft and dependable woody base note with gentle balsamic warmth. It is less creamy than sandalwood, but beautifully useful for adding body, softness and longevity to natural perfumes, candles and aromatherapy blends.

Safety

For external use only. Dilute before applying to the skin. Avoid contact with eyes and keep out of reach of children. If pregnant, breastfeeding or under medical supervision, consult a qualified professional before use.

Amyris has long been used in perfumery as a warm, woody aromatic material, especially where a soft sandalwood-like effect is desired. Native to the Caribbean region, Amyris balsamifera produces a fragrant wood that yields a slow-developing essential oil through steam distillation.

Because of its smooth woody character, Amyris became known commercially as “West Indian Sandalwood”, though it is not a true sandalwood. This nickname reflects its role in perfumery rather than its botanical identity, as perfumers often use it to provide gentle warmth, body and fixative qualities in place of more expensive woods.

Today, Amyris remains valued by artisan perfumers and natural formulators for its quiet versatility. It supports florals, citrus, resins and spices without dominating them, making it a useful base note for elegant, grounded botanical compositions.

Quality & Documentation

We provide documentation as it becomes available, including IFRA, COA, and SDS files where supplied for the oil.

Available documents

• Documentation is being prepared for this oil.

Shipping & Delivery

United Kingdom

Free shipping to the United Kingdom, Guernsey, Isle of Man, and Jersey. Orders are dispatched using Royal Mail Tracked 24, with delivery typically within 1-2 working days after dispatch.

European Union

Flat-rate shipping of £12.00 to all 27 EU member states. Orders are sent using a fully tracked service with duties and taxes paid in advance (DDP), so there are no unexpected customs charges on delivery.

Typical transit time is 3–5 business days.

United States

Flat-rate shipping of £14.00. Orders are sent using a fully tracked service with duties and taxes paid in advance (DDP).

Typical transit time is 5–8 business days.

Dispatch times

Orders are usually dispatched within 1 working day. During busy periods this may extend slightly, but we always aim to ship as quickly as possible.