Frankincense Oil

Essential Oil · Boswellia carterii

Frankincense Oil

The sacred resin

A warm, resinous essential oil steam-distilled from boswellia tree resin — an ancient, meditative base-to-middle note built on alpha-pinene, treasured for centuries in ritual and skincare alike. Hover any measure to see where frankincense sits on the scale.

Strength
Medium
Strong
Medium
Soft
How forceful the aroma is. Stronger oils dominate a blend; softer ones sit quietly in the background.
Volatility
Low
High
Medium
Low
How quickly the aroma evaporates. High-volatility notes flash off fast; low ones linger and anchor a blend.
Note
Base
Top
Middle
Base
Where it sits in a scent's arc. Top notes greet you first; base notes are the deep, lasting foundation.
Aroma
Woody
Fresh
Herbaceous
Woody
Earthy
The overall scent family — from bright and fresh through green and herbaceous to deep, woody and earthy.
The Basics

What it is

Frankincense oil is steam-distilled from the hardened resin of Boswellia trees, which grow in the dry highlands of Arabia and the Horn of Africa. The resin is tapped from the bark and dried into 'tears' before distillation.

Warm, woody and faintly citrus-balsamic, it's an ancient, meditative scent built on alpha-pinene. A soft base-to-middle note, it's long prized in both ritual and skincare for mature, dry skin.

Quick Facts

Botanical nameBoswellia carterii
OriginArabia / NE Africa
Plant partResin
ExtractionSteam-distilled
NoteBase / Middle
Main constituentAlpha-Pinene
Also calledOlibanum
Where it comes from

The Tree & The Resin

Boswellia tree

The Boswellia Tree

A hardy, gnarled tree of arid highlands, its bark tapped to weep fragrant resin.

Frankincense resin

The Resin

The dried resin 'tears' are steam-distilled to release the warm, balsamic oil.

Composition

The Aroma Profile

Frankincense is led by pine-fresh monoterpenes over a resinous base. A typical breakdown:

Alpha-Pinene monoterpene
40%
Limonene monoterpene
15%
Sabinene monoterpene
8%
Other terpenes myrcene, pinene & more
30%
Beyond the Aroma

What defines its character:

Alpha-Pinene
The fresh, pine-like terpene that opens frankincense's scent.
Resinous Balsamic Tone
A warm, sweet depth that makes it grounding and meditative.
Skin-Loved Heritage
A classic choice in treatments for mature, dry skin.
Why People Love It

Key Qualities

Grounding & Meditative

A warm, resinous scent long used to calm and centre.

Skin-Loved

A treasured note in treatments for mature, dry skin.

Lasting Depth

A soft base note that anchors and enriches a blend.

In Our Formulations

How we use it

Frankincense is a grounding, skin-loved base note — we use it in small, well-diluted amounts to bring warmth and depth, especially to blends for mature skin.

It harmonises beautifully with our facial treatment oils, always carried in a base oil rather than used neat.

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