Did you know that Sambrani or Styrax Benzoin or gum Benjamin, a common ingredient in incense-making and perfumery used throughout many cultures, is known by two common types of benzoin - Benzoin Siam and Benzoin Sumatra of Indonesia?

Sambrani, with scientific name Styrax Benzoin or Devadhupa malacca in Sanskrit, is Benzoin gum, also known as benzoin resin and gum Benjamin. The resin is obtained from the Benzoin tree, a species of tree native to Sumatra, Indonesia, member of the Styrax genus in the family Styracaceae, and is also native to rainforests of many countries of Southeast Asia. The naturally occurring resin is Sambarni or Paal Sambrani, a Tamil name, while it is called Loban in Hindi, and its lighted smoke is an ancient tradition that has been followed for several centuries in India due to it’s amazing benefits to dry hair by women and for babies, and also as mosquitoe repellant.  

In its original form it was called Benjamin, a word of Hebrew origin which over ages has been adopted for several substances now in use. In Upper India, Benjamin was the name given to the resin of 'boswellia thurifers', but in commerce it is generally applied to the resin of the Styrax Benzoin of Benjamin tree. Its native growth is reported particularly in Sumatra, Borneo, Siam and Java chiefly in Java and Sumatra. However, it is mentioned that the Styrax benzoin tree is raised from the seed, and is of moderate size, and confined to the islands of Sumatra and Borneo. Over the centuries it has become very popular through out India as Sambrani. There are two types of benzoin gum commonly marketed, one is called “Benzoin Gum Siam” got from Styrax Tonkinensis and the other is “Benzoin Gum Sumatra” got from Styrax Benzoin. 

The balsam of Styrax Benzoin is obtained by incision in the trunk of the tree practiced after it has attained the age of five or six or seven or eight years. The juice which first exudes is the purest and most fragrant. It becomes hard on exposure to the air and turns brittle and semi transparent. The resin is white and transparent at first. About 3 lbs is the yield by each tree for several years. The white Benjamin is termed cowrie Luban in India and is a superior kind. It is a gum resin and is generally met with in the form of dry hard grey masses, rather shining, brittle, formed of ovid , whitish tears like stripped almonds. The best product comes to India from Sumatra. It is much used as a perfume and as incense in places of worship, in the composition of Frankincense in the manufacture of pastilles called agarbathis, oudbathis. Benzoic acid is procured from this substance.

In India, the balsam resin of the Styrax Benzoin of Benjamin tree, is marketed under two names, one is called “Paal Sambrani” and the other is “Computer Sambrani”. Paal Sambrani is the naturally occurring resin (one of the two) and Computer Sambrani refers to a mixture of ingredients in which Sambrani is one of the main ingredients. Both types are used as prayer incense.

Benzoin Gum Siam, reddish yellow in colour and internally milky white, is available in four different grades ranging from large shaped resin to almost fine powder. Its chemical composition consists of benzyl benzoate, benzoic acid, methyl benzoate and allyl benzoate. Apart from its use in perfumery and incense industry, it is also used in pharmaceutical preparations. In view of its pleasing odor with a discretely similar to vanilla, it is used to flavor artificial vanilla and chocolate products. 

The Benzoin Gum Sumatra, however, is distinct from the Siam type and has reddish to greyish brown colour. Its chemical composition consists of benzyl benzoate, styrene, cinnamic acid and benzyl cinnamate. Its main use is in soap and detergent fragrances. 

Sambrani's medicinal uses as benzoin tincture is to treat throat infection cold sores, treat dry skin, wounds and inflammation, and also to relieve muscle pain, gout and arthritis. It is also used to treat digestive problems, and as a diuretic. 

A common sight in South Indian homes, before the advent of electric hair dryers, was the use of lighted Sambrani (in the form of a thick, shapeless and lumpy rock-like material) in a special holder to generate an ameliorative smoke, a very fragrant smoke to dry hair by women by burning sambrani with a wicker basket placed over it; Women used to sit with their back to the smoke, leaning backward and letting their hair fall over the basket so that the smoke enveloped their hair, dried it and also left its fragrance behind. Its smoke was also used for babies, after they had their bath, to prevent them from catching a cold. 

In this context, a bit of mythology should be of interest to readers - a story, more a myth, in Tamil Nadu. A Pandian King wanted to know if a woman's hair was fragrant naturally, and to know the fact he arranged a poetry competition. A poor poet, Dharumi who wished to win the contest prayed to Lord Shiva to help him. Shiva obliged and composed a poem about the natural fragrance of women's' hair, and the poet read it in the court of the Pandyan King. and won accolades and honour for it. But the royal poet of the court, Nakkeeran, challenged it and said the fragrance of womens' hair was a result of the flowers that were used to decorate the hair, scents and the incense, particularly Sambrani that was used to dry the hair. This observation, though true, irked Lord Shiva, as his pride was hurt, and he tried to burn Nakeeran with his third eye. On a special plea by the Pandyan King, Shiva spared Nakeerna's life, and also blessed him for telling the truth.  

Sambrani is popular is Bengal as 'dhuno' and in the Durga pujo offering dhuno in a Dhunuchi (ধুনুচি) burner (ornamental brass or clay holder) is an essential and most watched frenzied dance called 'dhunuchi nritya'. It is a popular evening event as dhunachi aarti on the banks of the Ganges in Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh.

Narasipur Char