Balsam oil, also called oil of Peru or Balsam Peru oil, is an essential oil of Myroxylon pereirae. Balsam oil was used in ancient Egypt to mummify the dead.
According to the biblical book of Esther, balsam oil was used to help prepare the harem's virgins to meet the king (Est 2:12). Another biblical mention was when the queen of Sheba went to confirm King Solomon's wisdom, her amazement caused her to give the king 'a great deal of balsam oil' for which 'there never came anymore the like of that balsam oil for the quantity such' given (1 Kings 10:10).
BALSAM — BALSAM, spice designated in the Bible by various names: בּׁשֶׂם (bosem), בֶּשֶׂם (besem), צֳרִי (ẓori), נָטָף (nataf), and, in rabbinic literature, קָטָף (kataf), בַּלְסָם (balsam), אַפּוֹבַּלְסַמוֹן (appobalsamon), אֲפַרְסְמוֹן (afarsemon),… … Encyclopedia of Judaism
Balsam — • Balsam is an oily, resinous, and odorous substance, which flows spontaneously or by incision from certain plants, and which the Church mixes with olive oil for use as chrism Catholic Encyclopedia. Kevin Knight. 2006. Balsam Balsam … Catholic encyclopedia
Balsam — Bal sam (b[add]l sam), n. [L. balsamum the balsam tree or its resin, Gr. ba lsamon. See {Balm}, n.] 1. A resin containing more or less of an essential or volatile oil. [1913 Webster] Note: The balsams are aromatic resinous substances, flowing… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Balsam apple — Balsam Bal sam (b[add]l sam), n. [L. balsamum the balsam tree or its resin, Gr. ba lsamon. See {Balm}, n.] 1. A resin containing more or less of an essential or volatile oil. [1913 Webster] Note: The balsams are aromatic resinous substances,… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Balsam fir — Balsam Bal sam (b[add]l sam), n. [L. balsamum the balsam tree or its resin, Gr. ba lsamon. See {Balm}, n.] 1. A resin containing more or less of an essential or volatile oil. [1913 Webster] Note: The balsams are aromatic resinous substances,… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Balsam of copaiba — Balsam Bal sam (b[add]l sam), n. [L. balsamum the balsam tree or its resin, Gr. ba lsamon. See {Balm}, n.] 1. A resin containing more or less of an essential or volatile oil. [1913 Webster] Note: The balsams are aromatic resinous substances,… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Balsam of fir — Balsam Bal sam (b[add]l sam), n. [L. balsamum the balsam tree or its resin, Gr. ba lsamon. See {Balm}, n.] 1. A resin containing more or less of an essential or volatile oil. [1913 Webster] Note: The balsams are aromatic resinous substances,… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Balsam of Mecca — Balsam Bal sam (b[add]l sam), n. [L. balsamum the balsam tree or its resin, Gr. ba lsamon. See {Balm}, n.] 1. A resin containing more or less of an essential or volatile oil. [1913 Webster] Note: The balsams are aromatic resinous substances,… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Balsam of Peru — Balsam Bal sam (b[add]l sam), n. [L. balsamum the balsam tree or its resin, Gr. ba lsamon. See {Balm}, n.] 1. A resin containing more or less of an essential or volatile oil. [1913 Webster] Note: The balsams are aromatic resinous substances,… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Balsam of Tolu — Balsam Bal sam (b[add]l sam), n. [L. balsamum the balsam tree or its resin, Gr. ba lsamon. See {Balm}, n.] 1. A resin containing more or less of an essential or volatile oil. [1913 Webster] Note: The balsams are aromatic resinous substances,… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
