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Tolubalsam

I placed an order with a company I love a few weeks ago and then I sort of forgot about it. A big box of goodies arrived and I opened it excitedly (think of a kid on Christmas morning). I had a fair idea what was in the box. I could smell the Labdanum immediately (I'll talk about that later). But at the bottom of the box was a large canister. I was perplexed. "What is this?" I asked myself, I opened the container and took a sniff. I instinctively use my nose to recognise materials rather than the label (it's good practice). I didn't recognise it, I liked it but I knew I had never smelled it before in any form. I looked at the label. Tolubalsam. Smells like warm (mouth watering now I've got my head stuck in the can. I'm sure this stuff would get me high if I keep smelling it) vanilla toffee biscuits (cookies). I can see it crystallized in the can. It looks solid. "How am I going to get it out" I wondered. I later place the whole tin in a bainmarie and slowly heated it. It poured easily. Looked like thick malt extract. Yummy I would love to eat it. Tolubalsam, I have yet to explore your nuances.

Comments

Anonymous said…
Hi Ruth,

I am a member of the NP group and I enjoy reading your blog..This tolu balsam sounds/looks scrumptious...does it dissolve in a fixed oil like jojoba (haven't yet gotten any perfumers alcohol)

Thanks
P.S really enjoyed your lavender entry- I have the absolute(bulgarian) and essential oil(french) and they *are* different
June 21, 2007 at 11:01 AM
Anonymous said…
Hi, Why don't I see these comments until it's so late. What I do with the tolu is infuse it in the jojoba oil, it takes a little while and I break it all up as much as possible to help the infusion process. When the scent has infused the oil I decant or strain the jojoba oil.
Thank you!
September 15, 2007 at 1:37 PM
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