Guaiol

/ˈɡwaɪɔl/ noun

Definition

A chemical compound or alcohol derived from guaiac resin, used in perfumery and pharmaceutical applications.

Etymology

From guaia- plus the chemical suffix -ol for alcohols. Identified through 19th-20th century extraction and analysis of guaiac resin components.

Kelly Says

Guaiol is used in perfumes to create woody, warm scents, so when you smell high-end fragrances, you might be smelling a molecule first extracted from a Caribbean tree by indigenous peoples.

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