Frankincense, Brazil / Breu Branco

Breu branco is sold as Brazilian frankincense. It is not Boswellia. The resin comes from Protium heptaphyllum, an Amazonian tree of the same family, Burseraceae, with a chemistry of its own.

01 · Origin

A tree of the Amazon basin and the Brazilian forests. Its white resin, the breu branco of the name, seeps from the trunk and hardens in the open air. Communities of the region have long burned it as incense. This oil is distilled from the resin of wild trees in Brazil.

02 · Process

The resin is gathered from the bark after it has set and is steam distilled. Para-cymene leads, which is unusual among resin oils and gives it a dry, almost spicy brightness. Alpha-pinene and terpinolene follow. The profile differs clearly from the pinene- and limonene-led African frankincense, and comparison with Frankincense, Carterii (No. 3010) makes the point.

03 · In Practice

Fresh, resinous and lemony-peppery, with a light woody, incense-like base. A top-to-middle note. Incense-style diffusion, meditation practice, massage blends and natural perfumery. Blends with frankincense, copaiba, cedarwood, sandalwood, lemon, lavender and vetiver.

General information: For external use only. Dilute before applying to skin. Keep away from heat and sunlight. Keep out of reach of children. Avoid contact with eyes and mucous membranes.