Frankincense, Carterii

Frankincense is a trade name covering several species, not a single oil. Boswellia carterii, sacra, serrata and rivae each give a distinct profile. Carterii, from the Horn of Africa, is the species that came to dominate modern commerce and the one most texts mean by the word.

01 · Origin

Boswellia carterii grows on dry, rocky ground in Somalia, often on limestone slopes. The trees are tapped by scoring the bark; the milky exudate hardens to tears that are gathered by hand. Older pharmacopoeias and perfumery texts know the resin as olibanum. This oil is distilled from wild-harvested resin.

02 · Chemistry

Monoterpenes dominate: alpha- and beta-pinene, limonene, sabinene and myrcene. Compared with sacra the profile is rounder and less austere. The volatile terpene fraction gives a bright opening; the dry-down is softly balsamic.

03 · In Practice

Fresh, resinous and lemony at the top, warm and balsamic beneath. A middle note. Diffusion, meditation practice, massage blends and skincare formulation. For comparative work: Frankincense, Sacra (No. 3021), Frankincense, Serrata (No. 3012) and Frankincense, Rivae (No. 3014). Blends with myrrh, sandalwood, lavender, orange, cedarwood, vetiver and rose.

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.