Using solvents to test amber is or can be "destructive."

If we are talking about phenolic plastics, versus native copals (or even amber, for that matter) there are two very easy and totally nondestructive things that can be done:

1) Rub and smell the piece in question. Rub it for one full minute. (If you are the impatient type, look at a clock.) Amber and copal will both yield a pleasant aromatic aroma, similar to pine resin. (It may take amber longer to make this smell—hence the full minute invested). Phenolic plastic will give the odor of carbolic acid—this being acrid and chemical-smelling. It makes this smell very quickly and easily. If you are in-doubt about what to expect with phenolic plastic, bop into your kitchen and do the same thing with a pan that has a black Bakelite handle. It will make the same smell.

In case anyone tells you so, there is no such thing as a material that "combines" amber and phenolic plastics. (I have heard this A LOT in the past 30 years!) There is sometimes a very small quantity of synthetic plastic/resin in some pressed amber; however, there is no amber in plastics. (Except for particular imitations that have suspended chunks of amber in a resinous medium, such as damar or whatever. But in this instance you can actually SEE the amber pieces—and this stuff is NOT phenolic.)

2) Use a brine test! Put 8 ounces of ordinary tap water into a cup or glass, and stir in three tablespoons of ordinary table salt. In this brine, both amber and copal will immediately float to the top. Phenolic plastics will sink like rocks!

Again, at my Amber Group, there is considerable information about these issues available—more detailed than I have time to compose here, now.

Good luck. Jamey