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Guaiacwood Essential Oil | Bulnesia Sarmientoi | An aromatic bridge between earth and spirit — grounding, warm, and deeply sensual.
Guaiacwood Essential Oil | Bulnesia Sarmientoi | An aromatic bridge between earth and spirit — grounding, warm, and deeply sensual.
Whether used to center the mind, calm the body, or enrich a fragrance, guaiacwood oil stands as a symbol of natural strength and gentle luxury — a rare treasure for artisans and aromatherapists alike.
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Botanical Name: Bulnesia sarmientoi
Family Name: Zygophyllaceae
Common Name: Guaiacwood.
NCI: Bulnesia sarmientoi (Guaiacwood) Wood Oil.
Extraction Method: Steam distilled.
Parts Used: Wood.
Note: Base note.
Odor: Soft resin, warm wood smoke, faint rose nuances.
Appearance: Creamy. Semi-solid at room temperature.
Country of Origin: Paraguay.
Recommended use 0.5–2% in topical formulations.
Guaiacwood Essential Oil, distilled from the heartwood of Bulnesia sarmientoi — a slow-growing tree native to the Gran Chaco region of South America (Argentina, Paraguay, Bolivia) — is one of nature’s most intriguing and ancient aromatic treasures.
This precious oil, often referred to as “the tree of life” or “Palo Santo of the Pampas,” offers a rich, creamy, woody aroma with subtle balsamic and smoky undertones. Its fragrance embodies both strength and serenity, grounding the emotions while uplifting the spirit — a duality that has made guaiacwood a sacred ingredient in perfumery and ceremonial use for centuries.
The Guaiacwood tree (Bulnesia sarmientoi) belongs to the Zygophyllaceae family and is closely related to the lignum vitae (Guaiacum officinale).
It produces one of the hardest and densest woods in the world, highly valued for its durability, resin content, and characteristic deep aroma.
The essential oil is obtained through steam distillation of the wood and sawdust, yielding a viscous, semi-solid oil that is pale yellow to brownish in color.
At room temperature, the oil often solidifies due to its high resin and guaiac alcohol content — it liquefies gently when warmed.
Each distillation is slow and carefully monitored to extract the oil’s resinous-sweet essence while maintaining its natural fixative qualities.
Aromatic Profile
Guaiacwood essential oil opens with soft, creamy, woody notes, followed by a sweet, balsamic heart and a subtle smoky-amber drydown.
It is reminiscent of sandalwood, but with a deeper, more resinous character and an earthy sensuality that anchors compositions beautifully.
Aromatic pyramid:
Top notes: Soft resin, warm wood smoke, faint rose nuances
Heart notes: Creamy balsam, amber, slightly honeyed undertones
Base notes: Woody, leathery, lingering warmth
When blended, it adds longevity and depth to floral, oriental, and woody accords, making it a cherished natural fixative in high-end perfumery.
Chemical Composition:
-Guaiol 36% Woody, balsamic core note, grounding.
-Bulnesol 45 % Creamy, smooth, fixative base.
This composition gives Guaiacwood oil its distinctive warm, dense, and long-lasting aroma, prized as both a base note and natural fixative.
Therapeutic and Cosmetic Benefits
Beyond perfumery, Guaiacwood essential oil is renowned in aromatherapy for its calming, anti-inflammatory, and grounding effects.
Traditionally, it was used in South American herbal medicine for respiratory and muscular relief, and as a purifying agent in ritual cleansing.
Key benefits:
- Anti-inflammatory and soothing: Relieves muscle tension, rheumatic discomfort, and joint stiffness.
- Grounding and balancing: Promotes inner calm, stability, and focus — ideal for meditation and stress relief.
- Skin nourishment: When diluted, supports dry, irritated, or mature skin due to its emollient and antioxidant compounds.
- Natural perfumery base: Enhances longevity of aromatic blends while adding creamy depth.
Aromatherapy and Emotional Properties
In aromatherapy, Guaiacwood resonates with the Root and Heart chakras, symbolizing emotional grounding and gentle opening of the heart.
Its scent has a profound centering effect, helping to release emotional tension, anxiety, and restlessness.
When diffused or used in meditation blends, it promotes:
- A sense of peace and inner balance
- Reconnection with one’s physical and emotional center
- Deep relaxation after emotional exhaustion
Its warm, woody fragrance pairs harmoniously with rose, sandalwood, patchouli, cedarwood, vetiver, benzoin, and frankincense, enriching both aromatic and spiritual blends.
The oil’s dense, viscous texture makes it ideal for solid perfumes, balms, massage oils, and incense compositions, where it acts both as an aroma and a fixative binder.
Applications in Perfumery and Formulation
Guaiacwood essential oil is a cornerstone ingredient in:
Fine perfumery (oriental, woody, floral blends)
Luxury candles and incense compositions
Natural solid perfumes and balms
Skin and massage oils (at 0.5–2%)
Its creamy-woody note extends the drydown of blends and stabilizes volatile oils.
Perfumers value it as a natural alternative to synthetic amber and sandalwood fixatives, with a more sustainable footprint.
Safety Guidelines:
-Always patch test before topical use.
- For external use only.
-Use in dilutions no greater than 3% in leave-on skin care.
-Use Amber, Cobalt or Miron violet glass bottles to protect from light degradation.
-Avoid ingestion unless under expert supervision.
-Pregnancy, young children, or sensitive skin users should consult a qualified practitioner.
All images are designed by Botanica Gaia, copyright by Botanica Gaia.
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The information presented here is for educating our customers about the traditional uses of essential oils and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. You are responsible for understanding the safe application of these products.