Being a snoop at heart, I did three of the tests described described in a previous posting on the two strands shown below. Here are the results:

1) When cut with a knife, amber/copal will crumble while phenolic resin will slice. The first strand crumbles, the second strand slices.

2) When exposed to acetone, amber/copal will dissolve while phenolic resin is resistant. The first strand became tacky and stuck to my finger, the second strand merely became clean.

3) When exposed to a flame, amber/copal will smell like incense while phenolic resin will stink like burning carbon. The first strand charred while the second strand did nothing.

Clearly the second strand is a superior material. Can you guess where I bought the first strand? Nancy