Boswellia carteri
✾ The Sacred Resin
Origins: Frankincense comes from the resin of Boswellia trees, which grow primarily in Oman, Somalia, and other arid regions of northeastern Africa and the Arabian Peninsula.
Source: The resin is harvested by gently tapping the bark and allowing the tree’s aromatic sap to harden before it is collected and steam distilled into essential oil.
Character: Warm, resinous and softly spicy, with fresh citrus-pine top notes. It adds depth and warmth to botanical blends.
ꕥ Why We Love It
Mind: Promotes feelings of calm and relaxation, and encourages focus during meditation and reflection.
Skin: Supports the appearance of healthy, balanced skin when properly diluted.
Wellness: Creates a grounding, centering aromatic experience, often used to enhance spiritual and contemplative practices. The resin can be burned as incense, while the essential oil is a staple of aromatherapy.
⚘ A Closer Look
Treasured for millennia.
For thousands of years, frankincense was treasured for its rich aroma and cultural significance.
Along the Incense Route.
Caravans carried the resin along the famed Incense Route from southern Arabia to the Mediterranean, while ships brought East African frankincense into the trade.
Aromatic tears.
Its aromatic “tears” have been harvested and burned in ceremonies and sacred spaces for millennia.
✧ Good to Know
Always dilute. Blend the essential oil into a carrier oil before it touches skin.
Keep it fresh. Like other resin and citrus-pine oils, frankincense can oxidize over time. Store it tightly capped, away from heat and light, since older oil is more likely to irritate skin.
Expecting, nursing, or under medical care? Check with your healthcare provider before use.
✦ Common Questions
What’s the difference between frankincense and myrrh?
Both are aromatic tree resins that traveled the ancient Incense Route. Frankincense comes from Boswellia trees and smells bright, resinous and citrus-pine. Myrrh comes from Commiphora trees and is darker, warmer and more bitter.
Are Boswellia carteri and Boswellia sacra the same?
They’re very closely related, and many botanists treat them as the same species. The names are often used to indicate whether the resin came from East Africa or the Arabian Peninsula.
How should frankincense oil be stored?
Keep it tightly capped, away from heat and light. Like other resin and citrus-pine oils, it can oxidize over time, and older oil is more likely to irritate skin.
❀ Find It In
Frankincense appears in these ZenStream blends.
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Flow State Bodhi Wash | Botanical Body Wash$24.00 -
Stillpoint | Aromatherapy Roll-On$18.00 -
Flow State$18.00 -
Flow State | Aromatherapy Roll-On$18.00 -
Bodhi Butter | Botanical Body Butter$24.00
