Opopanax or opoponax, refers to a kind of gumresin obtained from a plant called πάνακες, traditionally considered to have medicinal properties. Pliny and Dioscorides described various kinds of Panaces with uncertain identifications. However, according to Dioscorides, opopanax was obtained from a kind of Panaces named πάνακες Ἡράκλειον, which has been identified as Opopanax chironium, Opopanax hispidus and species of Heracleum. In recent times, the commercial opopanax is actually bisabol or hadi obtained from Commiphora guidottii, and it is mainly used in perfumery. The resin of C. kataf, known as hagar, is often sold as opopanax as well, though its scent is very different from that of hadi. The confusion between hadi and hagar is attributable to historical misidentification.
Etymology
The name opopanax derives from Anglo-Norman opopanac, from Latin opopanax, from Hellenistic Greek ὀποπάναξ, from Ancient Greek ὀπός "vegetable juice" + πάναξ "panacea". Panacea denotes a kind of savory, named for Panakeia, a daughter of Aesculapius. The OEDgivesopopanax as the principal spelling, but lists opoponax as a variant spelling recorded from the 19th century.
Bisabol
Bisabol or bissa bol, also known as hebbakhade, habaghadi, habak hadi, is a major export article from Somalia since ancient times. The botanical origin of bisabol is Commiphora guidottii, not C. erythraea as generally has been presumed. Bisabol is often called sweet myrrh, while true myrrh from C. myrrha, known as hirabol or heera bol, is often called bitter myrrh.
Perfumery
Bisabol is usually sold as "opoponax" and used as an ingredient in perfume. It is therefore called opopanax of perfume, perfumed bdellium, perfumed myrrh, sweet myrrh or scented myrrh to be distinguished from medicinal opopanax and true myrrh. A resinoid is prepared from the resin by solvent extraction. Steam distillation of the resin gives the essential oil, which has a warm, sweet, balsamic odor. Opopanax oil and resinoid are used in perfumes with orientalcharacteristics. An IFRA recommendation exists.
Opopanax is also known as "perfumed bdellium". Bdellium is a semi-transparent resin extracted from Commiphora roxburgii and from Commiphora africana. Both resins were used as incense. They are referred to by Pliny as Bactrian and Nubian bdellium. The bdellium referred to by Dioscorides as "the bdellium imported from Petra" is probably the resin of Hyphaene thebaica, a species of palm.
