Storax
Liquidambar orientalis
Synonyms:
Styrax, Sweet Gum, Liquidamber, Levant Storax
Family:
Hamamelidaceae, Witch Hazel family
Origin:
South-East Turkey, Asia Minor
Part(s) used:
Balsam
Special constituents:
Cinnamic acid (about 50%), cinnamyl cinnamate (styracin), phenylpropyl cinnamate, vanillin, triterpen acids, volatile oil.
Correspondance:
Sun/Fire (Cunningham); 8, 12, 16, 32bis (Crowley); Sun (Beyerl)
Uses:
Antiseptic, expectorant, stimulant. Incense.
Styrax/Storax 
Storax Storax balsam is obtained in the following way: you beat the trees, causing balsam to flow inside the tree and being soaked up by the bark. The bark is then collected, boiled and pressed, and the resulting balsam is further purified by alcohol extraction. For incense, sometimes the bark, not the balsam, is used.
Storax is one of the ingredients of Friar's Balsam, which is used as an inhalation for coughs and colds as well as being a soothing application for ulcers and wounds.
Storax is well known in the perfume industry and in aromatherapy. The scent can vary quite a lot; it resembles cinnamon, vanilla, Balm of Peru, and Hyacinth. It is a basenote. When fresh, it can smell rather like gasoline. Scents of Earth describe it thus: "Balsam: unpleasant tenacious styrene top note followed by subtle sweet balsamic, flowery, slightly grassy fragrance. Bark: rich, very sweet, balsamic, floral".
From Sunrose Aromaticals: "Styrax is an excellent fixative. It is highly effective when using in small quantities. Even one drop to 5 mls of a carrier sweetens and holds the more ethereal scents. Styrax is a lovely ingredient to add to Florals. Its vanilla/butterscotch quality enriches blends while retaining its own unique aroma. One unique use for this material is environmental scents, sachets or boxes. Blends well with: floral perfumes, e.g. lilac, hyacinth, carnation, etc. Its dry floral note makes it suitable for cassie, mimosa, violet, lavender and fougere, rose, etc. Blends excellently with coumarin and its derivatives , linalool, ylang ylang, jasmine bases, etc. "
When using Storax as a fixative, sometimes the 10% tincture is chosen. Also for medicinal purposes - the balsam is rather difficult to work with, being very sticky. An essential oil is also extracted from the balsam. If you do work with the balsam, heat it slightly in a waterbath, this will make is easier to pour.
Storax should be safe to use for all; Chinese traditional medicine, however, advice that pregnant women avoid using Storax.
Storax is sometimes confused with the American Storax, Liquidamber styraciflua. The chemical composition of the balsam is different, though.
Both the American Storax and L. orientalis can be grown in Europe. The American Storax grows to about 15m here; L. orientalis is much smaller, up to 6m. They both have amazing orange to red autumn leaf colouring. You won't get any balsam out of the trees in our climate, though!