Camphor powder synthetic Camphor is said to have been first used as a drug in the arabian peninsula around ad 600, and, eventually came to be used as a sacred panacea in greece and egypt. In those days, camphor was obtained only from camphor wood (this product is known as natural camphor). In the 1920's, however, a mass-production synthesis method was developed in which camphor is obtained from rosin-derived turpentine oil. Currently, virtually all camphor is produced by this synthesis process. Synthetic camphor Turpentine oil originating from rosin is synthesized and processed into camphor. Natural camphor Camphor wood is subjected to a steam distillation process to obtain camphor. Typical applications of camphor according to properties 1. Chemical properties : celluloid 2. Sublimation: insect repellent 3. Tackiness: binder of metal powder sintering 4. Pharmacodinamic effect: plaster, cardiotonic 5. Other properties: raw material for perfume, fragrant pouch