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What springs to mind when you think about frankincense? Is it the gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh that were given by The Three Wise Men to Jesus Christ? Or maybe it’s a smell that you associate with Christmas?
Many people may be able to recall learning about this biblical event, which is recorded in the Gospel of Matthew (Matthew 2:11).1
Biblical references aside, frankincense essential oil is known worldwide as the King of Oils and reportedly has lots of health-related benefits (more on these below).2
It’s for this very reason that it’s been used in Ayurvedic medicine for centuries.3
Frankincense oil is sourced from the sticky sap of the Bowellia Carterii or Bowellia Sacra tree that can be found in Somalia, Ethiopia, Oman, Yemen, India and China.4
Frankincense goes by several names other than frankincense. They are - Bowellia Carterii, Bowellia Sacra and Olibanum.5
As with most essential oils, frankincense oil is extracted from the tree sap in a number of ways, which usually involves steam distillation. It’s also possible to dry it out and use it in its dried form too.
Frankincense goes back a long way! It’s said to have been traded in the Middle East and North Africa for more than 5,000 years.
Its roots go so far back that sacks of frankincense appear in the murals that decorate the walls of the temple of Queen Hatshepsut, who once ruled Egypt and died around 480BC.
Meanwhile, in the Holy Bible, frankincense and myrrh were components of the holy incense that were ritually burned in Jerusalem’s sacred temples.6
There’s so much you can do with frankincense oil. You can:7
Dilute it with a carrier oil and then apply a few drops to the bottom of your feet or rub it into your pulse points.
You can also add it to your moisturisers, body lotions and other beauty products to get the benefits into your skincare routine.
Either breathe it in directly from the bottle or sprinkle some droplets on a towel or cloth and pop it under your pillow. You can also breathe it in by lighting some incense sticks.
Pro tip – In aromatherapy, essential oils like frankincense are mixed with other oils. Frankincense blends well with citrus flavours like lemon, lime and wild orange. It also goes well with cypress, lavender, geranium, rose, sandalwood, ylang ylang, and clary sage.
Put some in a diffuser and take in the grounding and calming aroma.
Why not try a couple of our diffuser formulas that mix well with frankincense.
Frankincense oil has soothing and cleansing properties, as well as many more qualities. As a result, there are lots of advantages to using it, including these 11 handpicked benefits:8
When inhaled, frankincense oil has been shown to possess anti-anxietyproperties.9
It is thought that a component called Boswellia resin has calming effects when burnt. Which is why you are may feel sense of calm when you burn an incense stick.
Handpicked content: 5 essential oils for stress relief and how to use them
Thanks to its comforting properties it can help calm a busy mind, reducing the feelings of anxiety.
Much in the same way as it works for stress and anxiety, frankincense can diminish the feelings of stress helping to improve your mood and your concentration.
Frankincense acts as an antiseptic and disinfectant agent that has been known to display antimicrobial effects. It may even be used in place of chemical household cleaners.
Since 1500 BC the combination of frankincense oil and myrrh oil has been used in this way.11 They also make for some great gifts apparently!
Research carried out at the Mansoura University in Egypt found that frankincense oil can prevent germs and bacteria from forming on your skin, in your mouth or even in your home.12,13
According to studies, frankincense may reduce redness and skin sensitivity.
In the same study, frankincense benefits include the ability to strengthen skin and improve its tone, elasticity, defense mechanisms against blemishes, and appearance as someone ages. It may help tone and lift skin.14
Research suggests that frankincense oil can be used to help improve memory.15
With the relaxation properties that frankincense possesses, it may be that it can also give you a more restful night’s sleep.
Due to its help with feelings of anxiety and stress, as pointed out above, it is likely that the use of frankincense before bedtime may help you get more rest.
Always do a patch test to it make sure it doesn’t irritate your skin and don’t ingest it unless advised by a medical professional.
Always follow the manufacturer’s guidelines on how to use it.10
We hope you’ve found this guide to frankincense oil useful and hopefully come away wanting to give it a try. Intrigued about the popularity of essential oils? Check out this article, ‘The 7 most popular essential oils.’
Last updated: 2 June 2021