Frankincense (Olibanum)

Pale golden frankincense resin tears from the Boswellia tree, harvested in the arid mountains of the Arabian Peninsula and Northeast Africa. The tears are hard and slightly translucent and smell warm and woody in the hand. On a hot coal they release a rich resinous smoke with notes of spice, pine and citrus.

Frankincense is also known as olibanum, luban and boswellia resin. The tears vary naturally in size and shade, from pale cream to golden amber, and each one gives a clean, lemony-pine fragrance when warmed. A few tears can perfume a small room for several minutes, which is why the resin remains a favourite for home incense, prayer spaces and perfumery.

Frankincense contains boswellic acids and natural terpenes, and has been used for thousands of years in ceremonial and cultural practice.

How to use it

The classic use is as incense, a few tears at a time on a charcoal disc or an electric burner, and it is a traditional choice for meditation and prayer. Beyond incense it remains a key ingredient in perfumes and natural skincare, valued for its warm, grounding scent. Technique tip: let the charcoal ash over completely before adding the resin. Put frankincense on a red-hot coal and it scorches into acrid black smoke instead of the sweeter pine-and-citrus fragrance it gives at a lower heat.

Details

Also known as

Boswellia Resin, Incense, Luban, Frankincense Tears, Oliban, اللبان, धूप, بخور, Olibanum, Frankincense Resin