Benzoin

Benzoin is a resin extracted from the styrax tree, primarily grown in Sumatra and Laos. It smells of sweet balsam, vanilla, and a faint caramel — and it's one of the three pillars (with labdanum and vanilla) of the amber accord. Benzoin is also the most common fixative in oriental perfumery: it extends top notes, sweetens dry-downs, and 'glues' compositions together. Siamese benzoin (from Laos) is the perfumery benchmark.