FRANKINCENSE ESSENTIAL OIL
A treasured essential oil traditionally valued for skin rejuvenation, emotional wellbeing, respiratory support, and spiritual practice.
Botanical Information
Botanical Name: Boswellia carteri
Family: Burseraceae
Origin: India, Somalia, Ethiopia, Arabia
Method of Extraction: Steam distilled from the tree resin
Note: Base
Colour: Pale yellow, greenish
Aroma: Warm, smoky, resinous, balsamic
About This Essential Oil
Frankincense has been valued for thousands of years for its calming aroma, spiritual significance, and traditional therapeutic applications. Widely used in skincare, respiratory support, emotional wellbeing, and meditation practices, it remains one of the most respected oils in aromatherapy.
Key Benefits
• Traditionally supports healthy skin ageing
• Popular for meditation and prayer
• Traditionally valued for emotional balance and grief support
• Supports respiratory wellbeing
• Traditionally used in restorative skincare blends
• Deeply grounding and centring aroma
History
The name Frankincense is derived from the French word 'franc', meaning free, pure, or abundant, and the Latin word 'incensum', meaning to smoke. At one time it was valued as highly as gold.
Frankincense played an important role in the religious and domestic lives of Ancient Egyptian, Persian, Hebrew, Greek, and Roman civilisations. It was widely used in cosmetics, incense, religious rituals, and embalming. Frankincense is regularly mentioned in the Bible and was one of the gifts presented to the infant Jesus.
Avicenna recommended Frankincense for tumours, ulcers, vomiting, dysentery, and fever, while Pliny recommended it as an antidote to hemlock poisoning. Today it continues to be used for both its traditional therapeutic applications and its role in ceremonies, rituals, and spiritual practices.
Main Chemical Components
40% Monoterpenes, Alcohols
Properties
• Antiseptic
• Astringent
• Carminative
• Cicatrisant
• Cytophylactic
• Diuretic
• Emmenagogue
• Expectorant
• Sedative
• Uterine Tonic
• Vulnerary
• Antidepressant
Traditional Uses
• Skin – Traditionally used for inflamed skin, dry skin, poor tone, ulcers, wounds, ageing skin, wrinkles, scars, stretch marks, and antioxidant skin support.
• Nervous System – Traditionally valued for anxious states, nervous tension, stress, and postnatal emotional support.
• Respiratory – Traditionally used for catarrh, coughs, bronchitis, asthma, pneumonia, and colds.
• Urinary – Traditionally valued for cystitis and haemorrhoids.
• Reproductive – Traditionally used for genital infections, leucorrhoea, heavy periods, and uterine support.
• Other – Traditionally used as part of supportive wellness approaches during serious illness.
Psychological & Emotional Uses
• Calming and centring
• Traditionally valued during grief and emotional healing
• Supports letting go of negative emotional patterns
• Encourages empowerment and emotional resilience
• Popular for meditation and prayer
• Helps quiet mental chatter and deepen breathing
• Deeply relaxing and grounding
• Traditionally used for burnout, exhaustion, doubt, depression, self-blame, fear of change, despair, and emotional disconnection
Blends Well With
Basil, Bergamot, Black Pepper, Geranium, Jasmine, Lavender, Myrrh, Neroli, Orange, Patchouli, Pine, Rose, Cedarwood, Sandalwood, Vetiver, and Ylang Ylang.
Health & Safety
• Use low doses during the first trimester of pregnancy.
• Always dilute appropriately before topical use.
• For external use only.
• Keep out of reach of children.
• Avoid contact with eyes and sensitive areas.
• Store below 25°C away from direct sunlight.
