Uses[edit]
Damar is used in foods, as a clouding or glazing agent, and in incense, varnish, and other products. Dammar varnish, made from dammar gum mixed with turpentine, was introduced as a picture varnish in 1826.[2] is commonly used in oil painting, both during the painting process and after the painting is finished.[3]
Dammar crystals are also dissolved in molten paraffin wax to make batik, to prevent the wax from cracking when it is drawn onto silk or rayon.
The name is a Malay word meaning "resin" or "torch made from resin".
There are two further types of damar, besides the gum:
Mata kucing ("cat's eye") is a crystalline resin, usually in the form of round balls.
Batu ("stone") is stone or pebble-shaped, opaque damar collected from the ground.