
Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions β written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Oil of guaiac
Introduction
Oil of guaiac is a fragrance used in soap. It comes from the palo santo tree (Bulnesia sarmientoi).
Oil of guaiac is produced through steam distillation of a mixture of wood and sawdust from palo santo. It is sometimes incorrectly called guaiac wood concrete. It is a yellow to greenish yellow semi-solid mass which melts around 40-50ΒΊ C. Once melted, it can be cooled back to room temperature yet remain liquid for a long time. Oil of guaiac has a soft roselike odour, similar to the odour of Hybrid tea roses or violets. Because of this similarity, it has sometimes been used as an adulterant for rose oil.
Oil of guaiac is primarily composed of 42-72% guaiol, bulnesol, d-bulnesene, b-bulnesene, a-guaiene, guaioxide and b-patchoulene. It is considered non-irritating, non-sensitizing, and non phototoxic to human skin.
Oil of guaiac was also a pre-Renaissance remedy to syphilis.
References
References
- D.L.J. Opdyke, 1974, Food Cosmet. Toxicol., 12 (Suppl.), 905
