Mexican White Copal - Protium Copal or Coapl Blanco

Mexican White Copal or Protium Copal
White copal resin is derived from various trees of the Burseraceae family from Mexico or Central America. It is the most widely used resin in this region of the world and has been used since the dawn of time. The Maya used it for their religious rituals and magic ceremonies. Copal resin is to this culture what frankincense resin is to the cultures of Arabia.

Use of white copal in fumigation
White copal burns perfectly on charcoal tablets. The piece of resin melts quickly and disappears from the surface of the charcoal, which continues to smoke for a long time afterwards, giving off the subtle, warm, resinous odour with lemony notes.
It should be noted that copal fumigation smells evenly until the last moment, unlike frankincense, which can easily turn scorched on a charcoal pellet that is too hot.

What type of copal resin should be used for fumigation ?
There are various types of copal in addition to white copal: black copal (very close to white and also originating in Mexico) or Manila copal. Quality white copal is recognisable by its colour, which ranges from light yellow to white. Some traders do not hesitate to pass off copal from Indonesia and the Philippines (the so-called Manila copal), a readily available and much cheaper resin, as Mexican white copal.

Latin name: Protium copal
Part of the plant used in fumigation: resin
Origin of Copal white protium: Mexico
Packaging: 25 gram sachets