Frankincense

Frankincense

Boswellia carterii / Boswellia sacra (also B. serrata, B. frereana)

Base note Resinous & amber Essential oil

Bright, fresh and peppery-lemony at first, drying down to a soft, balsamic incense. Lighter and fresher than most resins.

Made from: Steam-distilled from the dried gum resin that seeps from cuts made in the bark of Boswellia trees.
Strength: ●●●○○
Cost: Pricey
Moods: Calming Grounding Focusing
Seasons: Autumn, Winter
Rooms: Living room, Bedroom, Office

Blend with it

Cautions

Oxidizes with age — old oil is more likely to sensitize; store cool and dark

Rich in monoterpenes that oxidize with age, so store cool and dark. Wild Boswellia is under pressure from overtapping — buy from suppliers who name their source.

How it behaves

CandlesGood

Its fresh top fades in hot wax; blend with myrrh, benzoin or a wood for body.

Wax meltsGood

Reed diffuserGreat

Room & linen sprayGood

Electric (water) diffuserGreat

Cold-process soapGood

Behaves well with no acceleration or discoloration; the bright opening softens during cure.

Melt-and-pour soapGood

Laundry & cleaningWorkable

Pairs well with

Myrrh

Base · Resinous & amber

Sandalwood

Lavender

Middle · Floral

Sweet Orange

Atlas Cedarwood

Atlas Cedarwood

Palo Santo

Bergamot

Rose

Middle · Floral

Vetiver

Benzoin

Base · Resinous & amber

Don't have it? Try Palo Santo, Myrrh.

In these blends

Resin smoke and soft herbs in a cool stone room — for slowing down.

Bergamot · Lavender · Clary Sage · Frankincense · Myrrh

Top 28% Middle 44% Base 28%

GroundingCalmingAutumnWinter

A little lore

Frankincense has been traded along the Incense Route from southern Arabia for thousands of years, and Oman's Dhofar region is still famous for it.