Frankincense Essential Oil Overview
Ingredients: Boswellia Serrata Oil
Associated names: Frankincense (Olibanum) Oil
Common name: Frankincense
Plant part: Resin
Extraction method: Steam distilled
Common uses: Frankincense Essential Oil has traditionally been used to help relieve stress related conditions. It has also been known for its cicatrisant properties and is recommended for dry and mature skin types.
Strength of aroma: Medium
Frankincense Essential Oil Aromatics: Fresh and terpene-like scent with a subtle green-lemon note.
Formulating Tips: Because frankinsence contains a high percentage of waxy resins it is very likely that it won’t fully dissolve straight into alcohol when making a perfume blend. There are many ways around this including adding more frankinsense than you need and then filtering off the un-dissolved portion to re-cycle in a wax-based product such as a balm or butter. Otherwise, it is sometimes possible to increase the solubility by gentle heating and/ or adding other chemically similar ingredients such as rose geranium to it to help break up the waxes.
Blends well with the following: Basil, Bergamot, Cardamom, Cedarwood, Chamomile, Cinnamon Bark, Clary Sage, Coriander, Geranium, Myrrh and Vanilla.
Frankincense originates from a small scraggly but hardy tree indigenous to the Middle East, which is small with abundant pinnacle leaves and white or pale pink flowers. The resin begins as a fragrant sticky milky-white liquid that flows from the trunk of the tree when cut. The dried tears are collected, and the resin is then distilled, producing the precious oil. The resin is known as olibanum, derived from the Arabic al-luban or ‘that which results from milking’, referring to the milky sap. It is used as incense, and has been traded for 5,000 years. Widely used in ancient Egypt, it was one of the ingredients used in the holy oil described in the Talmud. Frankincense was brought back to Europe by Frankish Crusaders (Frank-incense), and the oil is still highly prized today in the perfumery industry, and widely used in the manufacturing of skin-care products.
Cautions: Dilute before use; for external use only. May cause skin irritation in some individuals; a skin test is recommended prior to use. Contact with eyes should be avoided.
All Crystal Korp Essential Oils are for external use only unless otherwise indicated.
This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease, and it should not be used by anyone who is pregnant or under the care of a medical practitioner.