It is a tree of the Styracaceae family, native to the islands of Sumatra, Java and Borneo. It reaches 10 meters in height and its leaves are oval, entire and covered with whitish fluff. The white flowers are grouped. Its fruit is ovoid and contains a seed. When making incisions in the trunk, a resinous liquid exudes which, when dried, is marketed as an aromatic incense called benzoin. By distillation of this resin the essential oil is obtained.
