What does opoponax smell like in perfume? Opoponax smells sweet, balsamic and warm, with a honeyed, powdery depth. It is often called sweet myrrh, softer and more ambery than its cousin.
| Botanical name | Commiphora guidottii |
|---|---|
| Plant part | Gum resin |
| Origin | Somalia and Ethiopia |
| Extraction | Resinoid and steam distillation |
| Note | Heart |
| Scent family | Woods & Resins |
| Odour | Sweet, balsamic and warm, with a honeyed, slightly powdery depth |
| Perfume uses | Ambers, orientals and soft woody blends |
| Key molecules | Bisabolenes, ocimene, santalene |
| Odour impact | Medium |
| Odour life on a strip | Very long: lasts for days |
| Found in | Santal Foy |
Used within IFRA limits. Impact and odour life are our own studio guide, judged on a smelling strip.
What Is Opoponax?
Opoponax is a resin from Commiphora guidottii, a tree of Somalia and Ethiopia related to myrrh. It has been used in incense since antiquity.
What Does Opoponax Smell Like?
Here is how strongly each facet of opoponax comes through, from our own smelling-strip notes.
Sweet
A soft, honeyed sweetness.
Balsamic
Warm, resinous depth.
Powdery
A gentle, powdery note.
Warm
A glowing, ambery warmth.
How Perfumers Use Opoponax
Perfumers use opoponax to add a sweet, ambery warmth and longevity. It pairs well with rose, vanilla, sandalwood and tonka bean.
Sweet myrrh
Opoponax is sometimes sold as ‘sweet myrrh’. It shares myrrh’s depth but is warmer, sweeter and less bitter.
Smell Opoponax in Prosody London Perfumes
For opoponax at its most expressive, try Santal Foy. Opoponax warms the heart beside rose and tonka bean, adding a sweet, ambery glow.
Santal FoyWhat Blends Well With Opoponax?
Questions About Opoponax
Is opoponax the same as myrrh?
They are related, but opoponax is sweeter and warmer.
Does opoponax last long?
Yes, very.
What pairs with opoponax?
Rose, vanilla, sandalwood and tonka bean.
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