Boswellia carterii aka Olibanum resin, steam distilled, from Somalia. It is native to the Arabian Peninsula (Oman, Yemen) where it is called Boswellia sacra, and northeastern Africa (Somalia), where it is called Boswellia carterii.

This frankincense is of premium quality, with an exquisite, complex scent!

Frankincense resin begins as a milky-white sticky liquid that flows from the trunk of the tree when it's cut, healing the wound.

Aroma: Light, fresh, rich, woody, balsamic, earthy, slightly spicy and citrusy with a deeply mysterious nuance. It is a grounding aroma and often used in meditation.

History: Frankincense has been widely known since biblical times. Frankincense is from the French word 'Franc' meaning 'luxuriant' or it could be 'real incense'. Also known as Olibanum, Frankincense was used by the ancient Egyptians in their religious ceremonies and was used as incense by the Greeks and the Romans.

Common Uses: Frankincense works on the nervous system, relaxing and revitalizing. It has long been used for making incense, helping calm and prepare the body-mind for meditation and prayer.

The therapeutic properties of frankincense oil include use as an antiseptic, astringent, carminative, digestive, diuretic, sedative, tonic and expectorant. Frankincense oil is said to help rejuvenate aging skin, is a skin tonic and is effective with bacterial and fungal infections. The anti-inflammatory properties of this oil are reputed to be an effective treatment for joint pain and arthritis. Frankincense can also be used as an insect repellent and is also widely used in cosmetics and soap manufacturing.

Possible Uses: Anxiety, asthma, bronchitis, extreme coughing, scars, stress, stretch marks. [Julia Lawless, The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils (Rockport, MA: Element Books, 1995), 59-67.] Frankincense is used in religious ceremonies as incense to unite body and mind in preparation for prayer and meditation - TTF

Colour: Light Yellow to green

Consistency: Thin to medium

Perfumery Note: Base

Strength of Initial Aroma: Mild-Medium

Constituents: Limonene, Pinene, Borneol, Farnesol, Phellandrene, Myrcene [Shirley Price, The Aromatherapy Workbook (Hammersmith, London: Thorsons, 1993), 54-5.]

Cautions: Frankincense oil is non-toxic and non-irritant and could be used by most people.

Safety Information: Essential Oil Safety by Robert Tisserand does not indicate any special precautions when using this oil. [Robert Tisserand, Essential Oil Safety (United Kingdom: Churchill Livingstone, 1995), 206.]

The #ancient #Egyptians used it in #religious #ceremonies, as many #Christian churches do to this day, and it has been a valued commodity since the most ancient of trade networks connected Africa with the rest of the world. The #Boswellia tree that produces #frankincense #carterii or olibanum is native to the Horn of #Africa and the #Arabian Peninsula.

Frankincense is a regenerating #medicine, especially for #nerves and #skin, #brain #healing and #anti-ageing, a #healer of #lungs and #spirits.

In #Somalia, #Ethiopia, #Eritrea, and #Djibouti, the Boswellia tree is still an important source of income for communities that harvest and sell the #resin. The tree is also an important part of the #ecosystem, providing food and shelter for #wildlife. It is crucial to buy only #fairlytraded, socially and environmentally responsible frankincense.

Photo thanks to Rod Waddington from Kergunyah, Australia, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons.