A resinoid is a concentrated solvent extract of dried botanical material, commonly a resin or another resinous source.
The starting material is brought into contact with a solvent that dissolves selected constituents. After the insoluble material is separated, the solvent is removed, leaving the extract.[1]
What the process gathers
Resinous materials can contain both volatile aromatic compounds and heavier, less volatile constituents. Solvent extraction can gather portions of both, producing a material with a different composition from a distilled essential oil.
The volatile constituents contribute to the aroma that rises readily from the material. Less volatile constituents contribute to its substance and can influence how its aroma develops and persists. Depending on the source and processing, a resinoid may be thick, sticky or relatively solid.[2,3]
Resin names the botanical starting material; resinoid names the extracted preparation. Further treatment of a resinoid with ethanol can produce an absolute by separating an alcohol-soluble fraction.[1]
Related entries: Resins & balsams; Absolutes; Extraction & solubility; Essential oils.
