What Are Frankincense Resins And How To Use Them?
This is an educational site that explains what these resins are all about and how you can use them.
All pictures of Resins are the property of Ryan Bambrick, who owns NWI Trading Company, and gave me permission to use them. Some of the pictures are also provided with permission by Resinolia and some I took with my own camera.
All these pictures and any of my pictures cannot be used without Permission. PDFs maybe be downloaded to enjoy but none can be changed or altered. Factual information was used with written permission from Dan Riegler, (Apothecary's Garden), Ryan Bamberick, (NWI Trading Company) Mohamed Sheikh (Resinolia) and Jamie Garvey (Boswellness)
What is Frankincense Resin?
Frankincense (also known as olibanum, Hebrew: לבונה [levona], Arabic: al-lubān) is an aromatic resin used in incense and perfumes, obtained from trees of the genus Boswellia in the family Burseraceae, particularly Boswellia sacra (syn: B. bhaw-dajiana), B. carterii, B. frereana, B. serrata (Indian frankincense), and B. papyrifera a few examples. The English word is derived from Old French "franc encens" (i.e., high quality incense).
To date there are about 43 species of Boswellia Trees. You can see it here: http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/search?q=Boswellia
Frankincense resin begins as a milky-white sticky liquid that flows from the trunk of the tree when it's injured, healing the wound. Frankincense resin is in essence a defense mechanism , it is the trees own healing fluid, that is why it is said the resins are found to have anti- fungal and antimicrobial properties. It is also thought that the antiseptic qualities of the resins help to prevent decay. It hardens over time due to exposure to oxygen, sealing the tree from the outside environment, harmful insects, infection, bacteria and mold.
The Arabic name is luban, which means chewing gum. . It's also known as olibanum, and its essential oil is often called "Oil of Lebanon." It's commonly recognized western name, frankincense, is said to have originated from the Frankish (French) Knights of the Crusades who treasured it in large quantities.
There are a variety of species that grow throughout Arabia, Africa, and India.
Frankincense has been used as incense, perfume, and medicinally for thousands of years.
Frankincense is used in both Ayurvedic medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine, and in many local folk remedies throughout Africa and the Middle East.
Frankincense trees in Somaliland are called Beeyo. Boswellia carteri is called Moxor and Boswellia frereana is called Maydi
Frankincense resin is said to have mystical powers. It is is good for aches and pains and for uses in anxiety or depression issues. It can help with arthritis, rheumatism, ulcers, asthma, bronchitis, gastrointestinal disorders, memory loss, improving brain function, and aging skin
What are Boswellic Acids?
Boswellic acids are resin acids and make up between 30% - 60% of the resin portion of Frankincense. There are studies that have indicated that the boswellic acids in Frankincense possess anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties. The Essential Oil that is distilled from the resin does not contain boswellic acid. The molecules are too heavy to come through the distillation.
5 of the resins have boswellic acid in it. They are:
Boswellia carterii-Somalia
Boswellia sacra-Oman
Boswellia serrata-India
Boswellia papyrifera-Ethiopia, Eritrea, Kenya
Boswellia dalzielii- Nigeria
I will give you a short explanation of each one of them.
Boswellia carterii-Somaliland /Somali (called also Moxor)
Latin Name - Boswellia carterii
Common Name - Beyo Frankincense, Mohorl Frankincense
This resin grows in Somaliland and Somalia in Africa. Some traditional uses of Boswellia carterii is to burn it as an incense for fragrance especially after cooking something non pleasant smelling such as fish. It is burnt for the warding away of mosquitoes, and insects such as sand flies. It is believed that burning boswellia carterii frankincense after an illness will clear the germs. . It is also believed it can drive away evil spirits. It is said that most of Boswellia carterii resins are sold for the perfume industry with France being one of the major purchasers of Boswellia carterii. Boswellia carterii is used in many popular perfumes. France has an incredible history of distillation and perfumery with boswellia carterii, especially in Grasse region of France. It is also reported that China is a large purchaser of Boswellia carterii, for use in Chinese medicine. Boswellia carterii is a source of boswellic acid, and has been recently shown to fight inflammatory diseases like asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, atopic dermatitis, Crohn’s disease and a variety of cancers.
Frankincense (also known as olibanum, Hebrew: לבונה [levona], Arabic: al-lubān) is an aromatic resin used in incense and perfumes, obtained from trees of the genus Boswellia in the family Burseraceae, particularly Boswellia sacra (syn: B. bhaw-dajiana), B. carterii, B. frereana, B. serrata (Indian frankincense), and B. papyrifera a few examples. The English word is derived from Old French "franc encens" (i.e., high quality incense).
To date there are about 43 species of Boswellia Trees. You can see it here: http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/search?q=Boswellia
Frankincense resin begins as a milky-white sticky liquid that flows from the trunk of the tree when it's injured, healing the wound. Frankincense resin is in essence a defense mechanism , it is the trees own healing fluid, that is why it is said the resins are found to have anti- fungal and antimicrobial properties. It is also thought that the antiseptic qualities of the resins help to prevent decay. It hardens over time due to exposure to oxygen, sealing the tree from the outside environment, harmful insects, infection, bacteria and mold.
The Arabic name is luban, which means chewing gum. . It's also known as olibanum, and its essential oil is often called "Oil of Lebanon." It's commonly recognized western name, frankincense, is said to have originated from the Frankish (French) Knights of the Crusades who treasured it in large quantities.
There are a variety of species that grow throughout Arabia, Africa, and India.
Frankincense has been used as incense, perfume, and medicinally for thousands of years.
Frankincense is used in both Ayurvedic medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine, and in many local folk remedies throughout Africa and the Middle East.
Frankincense trees in Somaliland are called Beeyo. Boswellia carteri is called Moxor and Boswellia frereana is called Maydi
Frankincense resin is said to have mystical powers. It is is good for aches and pains and for uses in anxiety or depression issues. It can help with arthritis, rheumatism, ulcers, asthma, bronchitis, gastrointestinal disorders, memory loss, improving brain function, and aging skin
What are Boswellic Acids?
Boswellic acids are resin acids and make up between 30% - 60% of the resin portion of Frankincense. There are studies that have indicated that the boswellic acids in Frankincense possess anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties. The Essential Oil that is distilled from the resin does not contain boswellic acid. The molecules are too heavy to come through the distillation.
5 of the resins have boswellic acid in it. They are:
Boswellia carterii-Somalia
Boswellia sacra-Oman
Boswellia serrata-India
Boswellia papyrifera-Ethiopia, Eritrea, Kenya
Boswellia dalzielii- Nigeria
I will give you a short explanation of each one of them.
Boswellia carterii-Somaliland /Somali (called also Moxor)
Latin Name - Boswellia carterii
Common Name - Beyo Frankincense, Mohorl Frankincense
This resin grows in Somaliland and Somalia in Africa. Some traditional uses of Boswellia carterii is to burn it as an incense for fragrance especially after cooking something non pleasant smelling such as fish. It is burnt for the warding away of mosquitoes, and insects such as sand flies. It is believed that burning boswellia carterii frankincense after an illness will clear the germs. . It is also believed it can drive away evil spirits. It is said that most of Boswellia carterii resins are sold for the perfume industry with France being one of the major purchasers of Boswellia carterii. Boswellia carterii is used in many popular perfumes. France has an incredible history of distillation and perfumery with boswellia carterii, especially in Grasse region of France. It is also reported that China is a large purchaser of Boswellia carterii, for use in Chinese medicine. Boswellia carterii is a source of boswellic acid, and has been recently shown to fight inflammatory diseases like asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, atopic dermatitis, Crohn’s disease and a variety of cancers.
Boswellia carterii-Somalia
Boswellia sacra-Oman
Latin Name : Boswellia sacra
Common Name: Royal Hojari Frankincense
Superior Hojari Frankincense is considered one of the highest grades of frankincense in the world. The medium sized translucent tears are white, yellow, amber, and pale green in color. This type of frankincense is considered to be the best, with wonderful rich aroma.. This is the Frankincense of kings! This also highly likely the same frankincense brought to Jesus as an infant by the wise men! Boswellia sacra (commonly known as frankincense or olibanum-tree) is a tree in the Burseraceae family. It is native to the Arabian Peninsula (Oman, Yemen).
Hojari Superior can be used in drinking water to add aromatic fragrance to the water. It is also said to clean the air and kills bacteria that multiply in the throat and stomach. In Oman, this type of superior frankincense is burned in churches, temples and mosques to add aromatic fragrance. . Also wealthy people burn this frankincense in their homes to provide a feeling of luxury, especially when receiving guests.
Latin Name : Boswellia sacra
Common Name: Royal Hojari Frankincense
Superior Hojari Frankincense is considered one of the highest grades of frankincense in the world. The medium sized translucent tears are white, yellow, amber, and pale green in color. This type of frankincense is considered to be the best, with wonderful rich aroma.. This is the Frankincense of kings! This also highly likely the same frankincense brought to Jesus as an infant by the wise men! Boswellia sacra (commonly known as frankincense or olibanum-tree) is a tree in the Burseraceae family. It is native to the Arabian Peninsula (Oman, Yemen).
Hojari Superior can be used in drinking water to add aromatic fragrance to the water. It is also said to clean the air and kills bacteria that multiply in the throat and stomach. In Oman, this type of superior frankincense is burned in churches, temples and mosques to add aromatic fragrance. . Also wealthy people burn this frankincense in their homes to provide a feeling of luxury, especially when receiving guests.
Boswellia sacra-Oman
Boswellia serrata-India
Latin name: Boswellia serrata
The resin of Boswellia species has been used as incense in religious and cultural ceremonies and in medicines since time immemorial. Gum-resin extracts of Boswellia serrata have been traditionally used in folk medicine for centuries to treat various chronic inflammatory diseases. Boswellia serrata (Salai/Salai guggul) (Family: Burseraceae; Genus: Boswellia) is a moderate to large sized branching tree that grows in dry mountainous regions of India, Northern Africa and the Middle East.
This resin has a bitter taste and when burned some think it really does not smell nice. .It has been used for those who have headaches and migraines. It is know to have very good anti-inflammation properties. Some see Boswellia serrata as a promising alternative to NSAIDs, warranting further investigation in pharmacological studies and clinical trials.
Boswellia Serrata Caution:
It has come to our attention that Boswellia serrata resin and Boswellia Carterri resin may have a problem with those on blood thinning medication and those who have blood or heart problems.
We suspect that this effect may be due to presence of Estragole, also known as Methylchavicol, in the oil. According to Essential oil Safety second edition Robert Tissurand/Rodney Young, p 553, Estragole have an in vitro antiplatelet effect. This effect is compared to diluted aspirin solution". You can read more about this chemical by reading it in his book.
Serrata usually contains around 2% of estragole while carterri range between none to 0.15%, as per GC reports and communication with Hubert Marceau, a well know distinguished chemist at PhytoChemia who is very well known for his work with Essential oils and also resins. This chemical shows up in the essential oil also.
Please use this resin and the essential oil carefully and check with your physician first.
Latin name: Boswellia serrata
The resin of Boswellia species has been used as incense in religious and cultural ceremonies and in medicines since time immemorial. Gum-resin extracts of Boswellia serrata have been traditionally used in folk medicine for centuries to treat various chronic inflammatory diseases. Boswellia serrata (Salai/Salai guggul) (Family: Burseraceae; Genus: Boswellia) is a moderate to large sized branching tree that grows in dry mountainous regions of India, Northern Africa and the Middle East.
This resin has a bitter taste and when burned some think it really does not smell nice. .It has been used for those who have headaches and migraines. It is know to have very good anti-inflammation properties. Some see Boswellia serrata as a promising alternative to NSAIDs, warranting further investigation in pharmacological studies and clinical trials.
Boswellia Serrata Caution:
It has come to our attention that Boswellia serrata resin and Boswellia Carterri resin may have a problem with those on blood thinning medication and those who have blood or heart problems.
We suspect that this effect may be due to presence of Estragole, also known as Methylchavicol, in the oil. According to Essential oil Safety second edition Robert Tissurand/Rodney Young, p 553, Estragole have an in vitro antiplatelet effect. This effect is compared to diluted aspirin solution". You can read more about this chemical by reading it in his book.
Serrata usually contains around 2% of estragole while carterri range between none to 0.15%, as per GC reports and communication with Hubert Marceau, a well know distinguished chemist at PhytoChemia who is very well known for his work with Essential oils and also resins. This chemical shows up in the essential oil also.
Please use this resin and the essential oil carefully and check with your physician first.
Boswellia serrata-India
Boswellia papyrifera-Ethiopia, Eritrea, Kenya
Latin name: Boswellia papyrifera
Boswellia papyrifera, also known as Sudanese frankincense is native to Ethiopia, Eritrea and Sudan. The tree is cultivated in Ethiopia because of its valuable resin. The incense smoke is characterized by a fresh lemon-pine scent, and is therefore highly esteemed. In Ethiopia where it is called itan zaf, it comes in semi-translucent yellow tears.
Boswellia papyrifera is distinguished from other types of frankincense by the presence of large amounts of Octyl Acetate and Octanol and two other unusual and unique chemical markers, Incensole and Incensole Acetate. Studies have shown that Incensole Acetate affects our central nervous system and possesses psychoactive properties. Some also say when burning this resin they seem to get intense dreams. It is used a lot in House of Worship for praying usage..
Latin name: Boswellia papyrifera
Boswellia papyrifera, also known as Sudanese frankincense is native to Ethiopia, Eritrea and Sudan. The tree is cultivated in Ethiopia because of its valuable resin. The incense smoke is characterized by a fresh lemon-pine scent, and is therefore highly esteemed. In Ethiopia where it is called itan zaf, it comes in semi-translucent yellow tears.
Boswellia papyrifera is distinguished from other types of frankincense by the presence of large amounts of Octyl Acetate and Octanol and two other unusual and unique chemical markers, Incensole and Incensole Acetate. Studies have shown that Incensole Acetate affects our central nervous system and possesses psychoactive properties. Some also say when burning this resin they seem to get intense dreams. It is used a lot in House of Worship for praying usage..
Boswellia papyrifera-Ethiopia, Eritrea, Kenya
Boswellia frereana- Somaliland/Somali (also called Maydi) - no BA in it but a very interesting resin.
Latin Name: Boswellia frereana Boswellia frereana is native to northern Somaliland where the locals call it "Maydi" or the king of all frankincense and their pride of joy. With a sweet and warm amber fragrance highlighted by spice, and floral notes, this resin differs from most other types of Frankincense with its pure oleo-resin content and lack of water-soluble gum. It does not disslove in water but does in a carrier oil. The west sees very little of this precious Frankincense. Most of it is exported to Egypt. It can be chewed like gum and is excellent for a tooth ache or stomach issues and relaxation it is perfect for making , cremes, salves, tinctures and many other natural cosmetic, fragrant and healing products. B. frereana is an excellent oleoresin for mature skin and signs of aging. It works well in salves for arthritis and also muscle and joint pain It is anti-inflammatory, has been shown to either reduce cartilage deterioration, or rebuild cartilage.. It kills the H. Pylori bacteria that causes ulcers and is used in skincare products as are the other types. It is easier to work with since it can be mixed or melted directly and quickly in oil based products. It has a lemony type smell. 
Boswellia Neglecta - picture came from Resinolia (with permission)
Frankincense Boswellia neglecta
Latin Name: Boswellia neglecta I wrote a blog for Resinola and i am putting bits and pieces of it here but you can see my blog here : https://www.resinolia.com/blog-2/2019/1/6/black-frankincense-boswellia-neglecta This beautiful resin comes from the Ogaden region in Ethiopia and also in Kenya. . It components are made up of alpha-Pinene, alpha-Thujene, Sabinene, Delta 3 Carene and Limonene. It is ruled astrologically by the Sun like all Frankincense and has a strong feeling with the heart and chest, physically, and emotionally. Just like the heat of the sun all types of frankincense are warming, and anti-inflammatory, give a feeling of awe, and promote great feelings of spirituality and contentment. This is a very interesting tree because the tree produces 2 resins. Black and White. White is extremely rare because the tree produces more Black then White and only certain times of the year. The gum-resin of B. neglecta seeps out of the wounds & cuts on the tree and dries up on the area of injury, sealing the tree’s wounds. Boswellia neglecta cannot be tapped to increase the yield of valuable resin, there is less concern of over abuse and unsustainable harvesting practices. It is used for burning as incense for its incredible aroma and is quite pliable and sticky when held in one’s hand. I have broken off a piece and it oozes in my hand. It is full of essential oil and gum. The one from Ethiopia is a much sweeter Boswellia than that of Aden, Oman, Somalia and India with a slight minty note. I have used the resin from the other countries and notice a difference. The others have more of a masculine woodsy smell. I actually like this smell better. It is used in perfume and I can understand why. I took a piece and burned it and the smell was wonderful. Totally relaxing and I felt like I was drifting into a beautiful sleep, which by the way is one of its uses. It has been used throughout the ages to enhance spirituality, mental perception, meditation, prayer and consciousness, so I can see why I reacted this way. Locally it is used as an insect repellent, the gum is also thought to be useful in the treatment of gonorrhea. The bark is often used in tonics and thought to help promote the healing of wounds. Mohamed informed me it is also used for chewing gum in his country to help with stress and to calm the spirits. Because it may help promote healing of wounds because of its anti-inflammation properties, it can be made into a salve by infusing the resin in a carrier oil and applied gently to the wound. The resin is great for relaxation and to release anxiety and stress as it gives a sense of calming. I totally like this resin. I use it for the Hospice patients I visit that have lung issues especially those that have Lung cancer. No it does not cure cancer but what it does once it is infused in a carrier oil and massaged on one's chest, it seems to open up the lungs a bit and make it easier for a person to breathe. I have found each time i have used it in this capacity it really helps. 
Boswellia dalzielii - Nigeria
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There are many other species, actually around 43 so far, but if you want more info on all frankincense resins, please join the Facebook page i created at https://www.facebook.com/groups/frankincenseresins/
Sustainability The Frankincense populations of the world are greatly threatened at this time due to their ever-growing popularity, over-harvesting, and natural destructive forces. The rise in popularity of essential oils has had the most devastating effect on the natural populations of these trees. Local harvesters try to meet large-scale corporate demand of essential oil companies by harvesting much more than the trees can handle, jeopardizing the tree’s well-being. Once weakened in this way, their immune systems are compromised, allowing disease and insects to finish them off. Frankincense trees are becoming highly endangered .though the demand and trade of this precious commodity has not slowed. Studies show that if we continue down the road over-harvesting, Frankincense trees could be extinct in 50 years! Times of crisis always generate good in the world however. In light of this critical reality, local leaders and wild-harvesting co-operatives in North Africa have begun to address this issue, spreading knowledge and best practices for healthy harvesting methods as quickly as possible. Be sure to ask your Frankincense resin/oil supplier to look into these co-operatives, and demand ethical and sustainable sourcing of their Frankincense from them. Make sure you purchase from companies that do Fair Trade and you purchase from Reputable Sources. Those who purchase through Fair trade, teach the farmers how to grow more trees and strip them correctly. It also makes sure the people who harvest the trees are given fair wages to feed their families. Many of these trees grow in hard to reach places and harsh conditions with poison snakes around the trees they try to harvest. So you want to make sure these harvesters are treated fairly. References: [1] The Plant List (2013). Version 1.1. Published on the Internet; http://www.theplantlist.org/ (accessed 1st January) http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/search?q=Boswellia [2] Wikapedia Burseraceae https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burseraceae [3] Middle East Institute- http://www.mei.edu/sqcc/frankincense [4] Apathacary’s Garden https://apothecarysgarden.com/2016/05/26/medicinal-frankincense-faq/ [5] Institute of Silviculture, Section II, Tropical Silviculture, Buesgenweg (ntroducing Boswellia Papyrifera http://www.fao.org/docrep/ARTICLE/WFC/XII/0845-A1.HTM [6] NWI Trading Company- https://frankincense.net/products/ethiopian-frankincense-boswellia-papyrifea [7] Wikipedia Boswellic Acid -https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boswellic_acid [8] Incensole acetate, an incense component, elicits psych activity by activating TRPV3 channels in the brain- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2493463/ [9] Tisserand Institute- http://tisserandinstitute.org/frankincense-oil-and-cancer-in-perspective/ [10] Boswelliia Carteri- Ryan Bambrick- https://frankincense.info/2016/04/18/boswellia-carterii/ [11] Boswellness- http://www.boswellness.com/ [12] Comparative Analysis of Pentacyclic Triterpenic Acid Compositions in Oleogum Resins of Different Boswellia Species-https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/24/11/2153?fbclid=IwAR1bCI1_cRT4LF8QafOf9sxnMvlcigEZSM4NpqkCBughTuzXsyPIFy9L1Lo [13] alpha-Pinene- Wikipedia- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alpha-Pinene#Properties_and_usage [14] Boswelia Sacra- Ryan Bambrick https://frankincense.info/2016/07/23/boswellia-sacra/ [15] Wikipedia- Boswellia Sacra- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boswellia_sacra [16] Ethereal Aromas Incense Company-http://www.eaincense.com/complete-archive-collection.html [17] Pubmed- Boswellia frereana (frankincense) suppresses cytokine-induced matrix metalloproteinase expression and production of pro-inflammatory molecules in articular cartilage. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=19943332 (B. frereana) [18] Pharmacology of an extract of salai guggal ex-Boswellia serrata, a new non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3751752 [19] Synergistic antimicrobial activity of Boswellia serrata Roxb. ex Colebr. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27730658 [20] Resinoilia- https://www.resinolia.com/ [21] Natural Health Sherpa -https://www.naturalhealthsherpa.com/boswellia-serrata-side-effects-extract-benefits/521079 [22] Fair Trade Frankincense- Aparthacary’s garden- https://fairtradefrankincense.com/tag/boswellia-rivae/ [24] ] Natural Health Sherpa -https://www.naturalhealthsherpa.com/boswellia-serrata-side-effects-extract-benefits/521079 [25] Pub Med Chemical differences between Carteri and Sacra https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22835693 [26] NWI Trading Company- https://frankincense.net/collections/frankincense-resins [27]. Wikipedia on Myrrh- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myrrh [28] Northwest School of Aromatic Medicine- https://aromaticmedicineschool.com/frankincense-divine-communion// [29] Higher Mind Incense- Plant Profiles- https://highermindincense.com/category/aromatic-plant-profiles/ [30] Ethereal Aromas Incense Company-http://www.eaincense.com/complete-archive-collection.html [31] Ethereal Aromas Incense Company -http://www.eaincense.com/boswellia-neglecta.html [32]. Wikipedia- dalzielli- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boswellia_dalzielii [33]. De Montfort University- .https://www.dora.dmu.ac.uk/xmlui/handle/2086/14429 [34]. Hindawi Limited – Boswellia dalzielii-https://www.hindawi.com/journals/ecam/2017/6374907/ [35] Pub Med- Anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic effects of methanol extract of the stem bark of Boswellia dalzielii Hutch (Burseraceae) in rats..https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=29948494 |
These are downloadable pdfs but they cannot be altered. They can be shared with permission from me. They will be updated from time to time so check back. If you want to know when join my email list at info@rbkaromatherapy.com
How to infuse resins:
This is a pdf which teaches you an easy method for infusing resins. This was created by Ryan Bambrick and with his help I put it into a pdf to make it downloadable.
| 15_easy_steps_for_infusing_frankincense_in.pdf |
My Experience with the "The Magical Couscousierre". (How to make Dan Rigeler's "Still"). This is a step by step with pictures , it is my experience on how i made his still. Enjoy the journey.
| my_experince_making_dan_still.pdf |
Frankincense Resins Info PDF:
| frankincense_resins_only.pdf |
