Benzoin is a warm, sweet resin tapped from the bark of Styrax trees in Southeast Asia, and it is one of perfumery's great comfort ingredients. It smells like vanilla, cinnamon and warm balsam with a soft, powdery sweetness, like the inside of an old apothecary. Perfumers use it to round out orientals, ambers and gourmands, adding cosy warmth and excellent longevity. It is gentler than labdanum and sweeter than myrrh, making it very easy to love. In Indian winters, benzoin-rich scents are pure comfort, glowing warmly in cool evening air. In summer, look for it in small doses within fresh-oriental blends where it adds depth without weight. It is also a classic fixative in traditional Indian attars, where its warmth anchors floral and woody compositions beautifully.