COPAL Oil | Protium copal

Known for its ability to elicit mentally uplifting and calming effects, Black Copal is rich in Triterpenes that have been shown to significantly reduce anxiety. Burning this resin is thought to activate ‘ion’ channels in the brain, helping to alleviate stress and anxiety.

These calming effects of Black Copal also allow the body to wind down and destress in readiness for sleep. It has long been used by the ancients to promote emotional balance and to calm down the nervous system.

Black Copal is a powerful incense to use during meditation. It is linked with the Crown Chakra, deepening connection to the mystical and encouraging pure thoughts during meditation. Black Copal also helps to strengthen the Auric body, helping to remove stagnant energy.

It is believed that Black Copal unites the energising force of the sun with the grounding properties of the Earth, drawing out and transmuting negative energy on every level.

In line with most other sacred resins, Black Copal has a long history of traditional use as a space clearer, eradicating negative energy from places and objects. It’s woody scent is said to bring a positive and loving energy that will fill the home with peacefulness.

Copal Oil can be safely applied to the skin to address a range of skin issues. It soothes, calms, and heals the skin. It has anti-inflammatory properties, which make it the perfect remedy for dryness, itching, eczema and psoriasis. It also doubles as a natural insect repellent. A few drops can be added to your bath for an uplifting experience.

There are three different types of Copal - White, Gold and Black. The variation in the color is due to how the Copal is extracted and treated.

Copal Negro - Black Copal

Black Copal is considered most desirable for ceremonial use due to its rich and mysterious scent. The resin is darker in color due to the ritual beating of the bark. Black Copal has a woody and earthy aroma. It is superior when used for cleansing, balancing, clarity and protection.

Copal Oro - Gold Copal

Gold Copal is made through the complete removal of the bark from the tree. Gold Copal has a rich and smooth aroma. This strong rich aroma is a powerful cleanser in ceremonial use.

Copal Blanco - White Copal

White Copal is made from making diagonal cuts in the tree and the sap gathers in a cup. The aroma of white Copal is sweet. White Copal is associated with purity and holds a light white color known as ‘The Saint’. It has strong cleansing ability by inviting in the divine to purify.

Copal is referenced in the Mayan book the ‘Popol Vuh’, which includes a long passage describing how the sun, moon, and stars arrived on earth bringing Copal with them.

The 16th-century Spanish friar Bernardino de Sahagun reported that the Aztec people used Copal as makeup, adhesive for masks, and in dentistry where Copal was mixed with calcium phosphate to affix precious stones to teeth. Black Copal was also used as a chewing gum and a medicine for various ailments.

Black Copal is still used by the indigenous peoples of Mexico and Central America as an incense and during sweat lodge ceremonies. Its magical qualities aid with the process of opening the soul to intuition and inspiration. It is thought to be admired by ancestors and is offered as a way of saying thank you.

Derived from the sap of native trees of the Buresa family in South America, Black Copal is a smoky, sweet incense used by the indigenous tribes of the Americas for ceremonies and rituals. Trees in the Buresa family were seen as medicinal trees that were traditionally used to combat disease and repel mosquitos and other biting insects.

The word Copal is from the Aztec word ‘copalli’, meaning ‘incense’ and was considered the sacred blood of the trees. This resin was also used as a binder for pigments used on Mayan murals and in a jewellery making technique that has forever been lost to the sands of time.