Category: Essential Oils
Frankincense, also known as olibanum, is an aromatic resin from Boswellia trees in the Burseraceae family. The name comes from Old French franc encens, meaning high-quality incense. True frankincense is produced by species such as Boswellia sacra, B. frereana, B. serrata, and B. papyrifera. The resin is harvested through tapping, with the best quality collected from the final taps, containing higher levels of aromatic compounds like terpenes, sesquiterpenes, and diterpenes. Most of the world’s frankincense is produced in the Horn of Africa, particularly in regions along the Somalia–Ethiopia border. The resin contains various chemical compounds such as incensole acetate and phellandrene, and is steam-distilled to produce the essential oil. The oil consists mainly of monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, and ketones, with components like alpha-pinene and limonene. Unlike solvent-extracted oils, steam-distilled frankincense does not contain significant amounts of boswellic acids. Frankincense essential oil is used in aromatherapy or can be applied to the skin, valued for its calming properties and distinctive fragrance.
Boswellia sacra
USES: