Oleoresin

Oleoresin is a terpene-rich defensive secretion of conifer trees, composed of a volatile turpentine fraction, and a semi-solid resin and essential or fatty oil. The oleoresin of conifers are known as crude turpentine or gum turpentine, which consists of oil of turpentine and rosin.

Oleoresin yields are affected by extrinsic factors, such as soil fertility, temperature, relative humidity and precipitation, and by intrinsic factors, such as genetics, age, size, health, and competition.

In kraft pulping, conifer woodchips are cooked with chemicals to extract cellulose fiber, oleoresin is also extracted as a tall oil byproduct. Industrial oleoresin derivatives are versatile:

Rosin & derivatives

Adhesives, sizing, tackifiers, plasticizers, printing inks.

Turpentine

Solvents in coatings, paints.

Fatty acids

Soap, detergents, lubricants, drilling fluids.

When the oleoresin of the balsam fir tree (Abies balsamea) is dissolved in xylene and used for making permanent microscope slides, it is called Canada balsam.