Fabulous Frankincense

Written by Maryka Malano

Reading time - approximately 2-3 minutes

What’s not to love about this ancient miracle from Mother Earth?

We use a lot of Frankincense in our products and mystical practice. So what is Frankincense? That is a brilliant question. Frankincense is from the species Boswellia, around 3 are used mostly for commercial supply, when it comes to essential oils. You may see the 2 most common being Boswellia carterii and Boswellia serrata. Boswellia serrata is also used medicinally and can be purchased as a tincture and capsules and are found to be useful for pain and arthritis. Functional doctors often suggest serrata for pain and inflammation. The third one which is used for a lot of mystical practice is Boswellia sacra.

There are approximately 20 species of Boswellia and they are native to Asia, North Eastern Africa and India. Not all Boswellia are used for commercial purposes, so we will focus on the three main ones that we use.

You probably remember the story of Baby Jesus and the three wise kings taking gifts or frankincense, myrrh and gold. Frankincense and myrrh were said to be as valuable as gold. Frankincense is one of the oldest commodities and has been used for over 5,000 years. The only problem with popular oils and resins, is that commercially, we have a tendency to over harvest and there are multiple projects going on throughout the planet to save a variety of species and this is not limited to Sandalwood, Rosewood and particular Amazonian plants, it includes Frankincense, White sage and even Tasmanian Native Pepper has recently been in illegal harvesters’ sights.

Remember Queen Cleopatra, she was said to have had her own perfumery and Frankincense was one of the resins used in ancient Egypt. Elise McCune International author wrote a novel about Cleopatra and lived in Cairo for a while. https://elisemccune.com/2024/06/02/cleopatra/

The most highly prized and expensive is Boswellia sacra, the highest quality is grown in Oman. Not only that, the Boswellia in this area are protected by World Heritage laws, but others may not be in other parts of the world.

So what are the main differences between species? Another great question.

• Boswellia carterii – contains the chemical constituents alpha-pinene (anti-inflammatory effects & bronchodilator, this gives the oil it’s woody resin scent), limonene (citrus scent, uplifting and promotes positivity) and incensole acetate (calming & meditative effects). This is a good choice for meditation blends, mood enhancement and positivity. Usually grown and harvested in East Africa.
• Boswellia serrata – from India, best for inflammation, pain and joint problems. Can be taken orally as a tincture or capsules. Always check with your medical professional.
• Boswellia sacra – from Aman and the Arabian Peninsula. Sacra is prized for it’s spiritual use, such as meditation and ceremonial practices and has superior grounding effect on the mind.

We use Frankincense in our essential oil blends, including; meditation, congestion, Christmas, energizer and wood & spice, some of our deodorants such as; oceania, dark earth, debonaire, forest fresh, ultra soothe cream, seaweed exfoliator, men’s triumph cleanser, perfumes, ritual kits, soaps and interior sprays.

Frankincense is an amazing oil and has a lot if amazing benefits, just another miracle from Mother Earth. One of the main things that we pride ourselves on is buying our raw ingredients and oils from reputable suppliers and we always aim to be part of the solution instead of adding to the problems. So, let’s all work as hard as we can to take care of our planet and always buy from businesses that support the planet.

Until our next beautiful ingredient focus.

Many blessings

The Malano Family xx