Glycerol ester of wood rosin increases the shelf life and stability of nished beverages.
Glycerol ester of wood rosin acts as a stabilizer and thickening agent in foods and beverages, allowing for stable products and consistent textures.
Glycerol ester of wood rosin is derived from the stumps of pine trees originally harvested for other uses.
CAS Number: 8050-30-4
Molecular Formula: C23H36O4
Molecular Weight: 376.52954
Synonyms: 8050-30-4, Abietic acid glycerol ester, ABIETIC ACID GLYCEROL ESTER, Ester Gum of Wood Rosin, GLYCEROLESTERSOFWOODRESINS, GLYCEROLESTEROFWOODROSIN, GLYCEROLESTERSOFWOODROSIN, Glycerol Ester of Rosin USP/BP/EP, Glycerine ester of wood resin
Glycerol ester of wood rosin is an alternative to brominated vegetable oil in citrus oil-flavored soft drinks.
Because this repurposes tree materials that would’ve otherwise gone to waste, it is a renewable source and cuts down on unnecessary waste.
By removing the tree stumps from the land prior to replanting it makes reforesting faster, easier and improves future growth for landowners.
Glycerol ester of wood rosin, also known as glyceryl abietate, gum rosin or ester gum, is an oil-soluble food additive (E number E445).
The food-grade material is used in foods, beverages, and cosmetics to keep oils in suspension in water, and its name may be shortened in the ingredient list as glycerol ester of rosin.
Glycerol ester of wood rosin is also used as an ingredient in the production of chewing gum and ice cream.
To make the Glycerol ester of wood rosin, refined wood rosin (for example, from solvent extraction of aged pine stumps) is reacted with glycerin to produce the glycerol ester.
In some cases, both ingredients are used together.
Glycerol ester of wood rosin, also known as glyceryl abietate, is a natural resin derivative formed by the chemical reaction between wood rosin—which is a solid resin obtained from the oleoresin of pine trees—and glycerol (also called glycerin), a simple polyol compound widely used in cosmetics and food industries.
This esterification process modifies the raw wood rosin to produce a more stable, less acidic, and less brittle compound that is easier to incorporate into various formulations.
Glycerol ester of wood rosin, also known as glyceryl abietate or ester gum, is an oil-soluble food additive (E number E445).
The food-grade material is used in foods, beverages, and cosmetics to keep oils in suspension in water, and its name may be shortened in the ingredient list as glycerol ester of rosin.
Glycerol ester of wood rosin is also used as an ingredient in the production of chewing-gum and ice cream.
Similar, less pure materials (glycerol ester of gum rosin) are used as a component of certain low-cost adhesives.
To make the glycerol ester of wood rosin, rened wood rosin is reacted with glycerin to produce the glycerol ester.
Glycerol ester of wood rosin is an alternative to brominated vegetable oil in citrus oil-avored soft drinks.
In some cases, both ingredients are used together.
Glycerol ester of wood rosin is produced by the esterication from wood rosin and glycerol.
There are two manufacturing processes for the purication of the wood rosin ester, depending on the purpose of uses, puried by steam stripping when used in chewing gum, or puried by counter-current steam distillation if used in adjusting the density of citrus oils for beverages.
Glycerol ester of wood rosin consists of approximately 90% resin acids (mainly of abietic acid) and 10% neutrals (non-acidic compounds).
Glycerol ester of wood rosin acts as a stabilizer in some foods and a thickening agent in others.
Glycerol ester of wood rosin is a food-grade material used in foods, beverages, and cosmetics to keep oils in suspension in water.
Glycerol ester of wood rosin is economical and eective in use because it is an easily accessible ingredient.
Glycerol ester of wood rosin also provides food with a longer shelf-life.
Glycerol ester of wood rosin was originally approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use in beverages in the early 1960’s.
Glycerol ester of wood rosins uses have since expanded.
Glycerol esters of resin acids of wood rosins used as food additives in beverages and chewing gum are those prepared from wood rosin that is harvested from the stumps of the longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) and puried to a beverage-grade ester gum.
The resin acid composition of wood rosin can vary considerably; however, the main resin acids in ester gum are abietic acids, with smaller contents of dehydroabietic and neoabietic acids; pimaric acids, including isopimaric and sandaracopimaric acids; and palustric acid.
Glycerol ester of wood rosin, also known as ester gum, commonly used as a weighting agent or an alternative to brominated vegetable oil in citrus-avored beverages, also functions as a softener in chewing gum.
The European food additive number for it is E445.
A complex ingredient mainly made of tri- and diglycerol esters of resin acids from wood rosin, and may also contain a small fraction of glycerol monoesters, free resin acids and neutrals (non-acidic compounds).
Glycerol ester of rosin, also known as glyceryl abietate or ester gum, is an oil-soluble food additive.
The food-grade material is used in foods, beverages, and cosmetics (depilatory-hair removal wax) to keep oils in suspension in water, and its name may be shortened in the ingredient list as glycerol ester of rosin.
It is also used as an ingredient in the production of chewing-gum and ice cream.
Similar, less pure materials (glycerol ester of gum rosin) are used as a component of certain low-cost adhesives.
To make the Glycerol ester of wood rosin, rened wood rosin is reacted with glycerin to produce the glycerol ester.
Glycerol ester of rosin is an alternative to brominated vegetable oil in citrus oil-avored soft drinks.
In some cases, both ingredients are used together.
Glycerol ester of wood rosin is an oil-soluble food additive also known as glyceryl abeitate or ester gum.
Glycerol ester of wood rosin is most commonly used to keep oils in suspension in water.
Glycerol ester of gum rosin is not the same as GEWR as it is produced dierently and does not have the same level of scientic and regulatory approval as GEWR.
Glycerol ester of wood rosin is harvested from the stumps of longleaf (pinus palustris) and slash (pinus elliottii) pine trees and puried into a beverage-grade weighting agent.
Glycerol ester of wood rosin, also known as glyceryl abietate or ester gum, is an oil-soluble food additive (E445).
The food-grade material is used in foods, beverages, and cosmetics to keep oils in suspension in water, and its name may be shortened in the ingredient list as glycerol ester of rosin.
Glycerol ester of wood rosin is also used as an ingredient in the production of chewing-gum and ice cream.
Glycerol ester of wood rosin is an alternative to brominated vegetable oil in citrus oil-avored soft drinks.
In some cases both ingredients are used together.
Glycerol ester of wood rosin is approved to use as food additive in EU and US.
Glycerol ester of wood rosin, also known as glyceryl abietate or ester gum, is an oil-soluble food additive -E number E445-.
The food-grade material is used in foods, beverages, and cosmetics to keep oils in suspension in water, and its name may be shortened in the ingredient list as glycerol ester of rosin.
Glycerol ester of wood rosin is also used as an ingredient in the production of chewing-gum and ice cream.
Similar, less pure materials -glycerol ester of gum rosin- are used as a component of certain low-cost adhesives.
To make the glycerol ester of wood rosin, rened wood rosin is reacted with glycerin to produce the glycerol ester.
Glycerol ester of wood rosin is an alternative to brominated vegetable oil in citrus oil-avored soft drinks.
In some cases, both ingredients are used together.
Wood rosin itself is composed primarily of abietic acid and other resin acids, which provide sticky and viscous properties; however, in its natural form, it tends to be hard, brittle, and prone to oxidation, making it unsuitable for direct use in many consumer products.
By reacting wood rosin with glycerol, the resulting glycerol ester of wood rosin has enhanced physical and chemical characteristics, including improved solubility in oils, increased stability under heat and light, and reduced irritation potential when applied to skin.
This modified resin is extensively used as a weighting agent and stabilizer in the manufacturing of various products, particularly in the beverage industry, where it serves as an emulsifier and clarifying agent for citrus-flavored soft drinks, helping to keep essential oils uniformly dispersed in the liquid and preventing separation or cloudiness.
Glycerol ester of wood rosins ability to improve the clarity and stability of beverages has made it a valuable additive in many commercial formulations.
Uses:
Additive in citrus-flavored beverages.
Glycerol ester of wood rosin is extensively used in the beverage industry, particularly in citrus-flavored soft drinks and fruit juices, where it functions as an effective emulsifier that helps to evenly disperse citrus essential oils and flavoring agents throughout the liquid, preventing separation or sedimentation, which maintains the beverage’s clarity and consistent taste.
In addition to emulsification, it acts as a weighting agent by increasing the density of the dispersed oil droplets in beverages, thereby reducing their tendency to float and separate, which results in a stable, visually appealing product that remains uniform during storage and transportation.
In cosmetic formulations such as lipsticks, lip glosses, mascaras, and other color cosmetics, glycerol ester of wood rosin is employed to enhance the thickness and binding properties of the products, allowing pigments and oils to adhere better to the skin or hair and improving the durability and wear of makeup.
Due to its resinous nature, it provides a smooth, glossy finish and helps to improve the overall texture and spreadability of creams, lotions, and balms, thereby increasing the sensory appeal and user experience of personal care products by preventing greasiness or stickiness.
In pharmaceutical topical formulations, glycerol ester of wood rosin is used as a stabilizer and viscosity enhancer, helping to maintain the consistency and homogeneity of ointments, gels, and adhesive patches, which ensures even distribution of active ingredients and reliable therapeutic effects.
Its adhesive properties make it useful in products that require strong but flexible binding, such as waterproof bandages, transdermal patches, and long-lasting makeup, where it helps the product adhere securely to skin surfaces even under conditions of moisture or movement.
Beyond food and cosmetics, glycerol ester of wood rosin can be used as a natural, biodegradable substitute for synthetic resins in certain industrial applications, such as varnishes, inks, and adhesives, where it contributes to the durability and flexibility of the final product while reducing reliance on petroleum-based materials.
In flavor technology, it assists in encapsulating volatile oils and flavor compounds, protecting them from oxidation and degradation, which allows for controlled release of flavors in food products and beverages, thus enhancing shelf life and sensory quality.
Due to its ability to provide shine and improve adhesion, glycerol ester of wood rosin is often incorporated into lip balms and lip care products to create a protective film that locks in moisture and helps maintain a smooth, glossy appearance even under varying environmental conditions.
In perfumery, this ester can be included as a fixative or stabilizing agent that helps prolong the scent by slowing down the evaporation rate of volatile fragrance components, thus enhancing the longevity and intensity of perfumes and colognes.
In nail care products, glycerol ester of wood rosin is frequently used as a film-forming agent that enhances the glossiness and wear resistance of nail polishes, helping to create a smooth, shiny finish that resists chipping and peeling for longer periods.
In the food industry, it can be incorporated into chewing gums and certain confectionery products as a stabilizer and binder, contributing to a pleasant texture and helping to maintain the consistency of the gum base, while ensuring the uniform distribution of flavors and sweeteners.
Because of its water-resistant properties, glycerol ester of wood rosin is often included in waterproof mascaras, eyeliners, and foundations to improve their adhesion and resistance to sweat, tears, and humidity, making these products ideal for long-lasting wear under various environmental conditions.
Its ability to blend with both oil and resin components makes it useful in sunscreen formulations, where it helps stabilize the mixture of UV filters and other ingredients, enhancing the product’s uniformity and effectiveness while improving its sensory feel on the skin.
In hairstyling products such as gels, pomades, and waxes, glycerol ester of wood rosin contributes to providing a strong yet flexible hold while adding a subtle shine, which helps achieve desired hairstyles that maintain their shape throughout the day without appearing greasy or stiff.
Due to its film-forming and moisturizing properties, it is sometimes added to lip plumping and conditioning products where it helps lock in hydration and create a smooth surface that enhances the appearance and fullness of the lips.
Safety Profile:
While glycerol ester of wood rosin is generally regarded as safe for use in cosmetics and food products, some individuals with sensitivities to resin acids or pine derivatives may experience allergic contact dermatitis, which can manifest as redness, itching, swelling, or rash at the site of contact, particularly after prolonged or repeated exposure.
In some formulations, especially those where glycerol ester of wood rosin is used at higher concentrations or in combination with other reactive substances, there is a potential for mild skin irritation, which may cause discomfort such as dryness, stinging, or inflammation, necessitating careful formulation and patch testing.
Although this ester is permitted as a food additive in certain jurisdictions when produced under food-grade standards, industrial or cosmetic-grade glycerol ester of wood rosin should never be ingested, as impurities or processing chemicals present in non-food grades can be harmful if swallowed.