balsam

/ˈbɔlsəm/

Other forms: balsams

Balsam is a scented sap that many trees produce. The substance that makes a Christmas tree smell incredibly good is balsam.

Balsam is made of a type of sticky oil, specifically known as resin. The word usually connotes the smell of a pine or fir tree; balsam incense and balsam-scented candles have this rich, woodsy odor. But other plants and trees produce balsam as well. The word's Hebrew root is basam, which means "spice or perfume."

Definitions of balsam

1. noun

   a scented sap used in medicines and perfumes
   types:

   balsam of tolu, tolu, tolu balsam

   aromatic yellowish brown balsam from the tolu balsam tree used especially in cough syrups

   balm

   any of various aromatic resinous substances used for healing and soothing

   balsam of Peru

   dark brown syrupy balsam from the Peruvian balsam tree used especially in dressing wounds and treating certain skin diseases

   balm of Gilead

   a fragrant oleoresin

   type of:

   oleoresin

   a naturally occurring mixture of a resin and an essential oil; obtained from certain plants
2. noun

   any seed plant yielding balsam
   type of:

   phanerogam, seed plant, spermatophyte

   plant that reproduces by means of seeds not spores
3. noun

   an ointment containing a fragrant resin
   type of:

   balm, ointment, salve, unction, unguent

   semisolid preparation (usually containing a medicine) applied externally as a remedy or for soothing an irritation