copaiba

thumb|Copaifera langsdorffii in a park in São Paulo, Brazil Copaiba is an oleoresin obtained from the trunk of several pinnate-leaved South American leguminous trees (genus Copaifera). The thick, transparent exudate varies in color from light gold to dark brown, depending on the ratio of resin to essential oil. Copaiba is used in making varnishes and lacquers.

The balsam may be steam distilled to give copaiba oil, a colorless to light yellow liquid with the characteristic odor of the balsam and an aromatic, slightly bitter, pungent taste. The oil consists primarily of sesquiterpene hydrocarbons; its main component is β-caryophyllene. The oil also contains significant amounts of α-bergamotene, α-copaene, and β-bisabolene. It is also the primary source of copalic acid. The aroma of copaiba resin is described as characteristically copaiba, and balsamic, whilst that of the essential oil is described as "warm, balsamic, spicy, peppery, metallic, woody, creamy, and labdanum".