Elemi oil

Description

The volatile oil distilled from Elemi resin. Elemi oil is a transparent, yellowish oil with a strong smell. It thickens with age, becoming resinous in a few days. Elemi oil is a strong solvent and was used for a short period at the end of the 19th century for cleaning paintings. Use was discontinued because it softened the paint film and left a resinous residue.

Synonyms and Related Terms

esencia de elemí (Esp.)

Resources and Citations

• M. Doerner, The Materials of the Artist, Harcourt, Brace & Co., 1934