birch oil

Birch oil, also known as birch-tar oil, is a brown, toxic phenolic oil derived from the destructive distillation of the bark and wood of the European white birch tree. This oil has historically been used in finishing Russia leather, imparting its characteristic odor. It has also been utilized in ointments for skin conditions like eczema.1

The birch tree itself, belonging to the genus Betula, comprises about 40 species of trees and shrubs found in cool Northern Hemisphere regions. These trees are known for their smooth, often white bark that peels in thin sheets and their toothed leaves that turn yellow in autumn. While some birch species are valued for timber and ornamental purposes, birch oil is specifically a product of the European white birch.21