The frankincense at the heart of every blend
Every blend here is built on frankincense, drawn from several Boswellia species and trade grades. Some recipes lean on Boswellia serrata, the Indian frankincense long used in tradition, or on Boswellia neglecta from East Africa; others carry carterii, frereana or papyrifera. The varieties differ in scent, so a blend may rest on one kind or draw on several.
Frankincense brings a warm, resinous scent and staying power, holding the brighter oils beneath it; by the old name olibanum it was long burned as incense. Every oil we blend with is third-party tested for synthetics and adulteration, and some come from distillers in small artisan batches.
Choosing among the frankincense blends
Which frankincense blend suits you turns on the kind of blend and how you mean to use it. The deep, incense-style blends are made for meditation and diffusing. Wisdom & Stillness, Four Wise Men, Six Kings, Freedom and Blessed Perfume belong here, with Frankincense and Myrrh for the classic resin pairing. The seasonal blends are warm and spiced for the holidays, among them Christmas Wreath, Christmas Eve Set and Fall Leaves. The skin and body blends come carried in a base oil, meant to be worn, like Hope Body Oil in argan.
Frankincense runs warm and incense-like through them all, but softer or sharper depending on which variety leads.
Using and storing frankincense blends
Whether a blend needs diluting depends on how it was made. The ready-diluted ones are used as they come; the neat blends want thinning in a carrier, never at full strength. Patch-test reactive or sensitive skin before wider use.
Frankincense is not phototoxic, carrying none of the furanocoumarins that turn some citrus oils sun-sensitive, so it is fine in daylight. A blend carrying citrus oils can make skin more sun-sensitive in a leave-on form, so check before sun. Frankincense is also monoterpene-rich and turns over time, so keep the blends closed, cool and dark; oxidized oil is harsher than fresh. Short diffuser runs of 30 to 60 minutes with the room aired beat all-day use.
Frequently asked questions
What do the frankincense essential oil blends have in common?
Every blend in this collection is built around frankincense, made as our own original recipe. Some use just one variety of frankincense, while others bring several together. The frankincense is the common thread that runs through the whole range. Beyond that shared resin, the blends differ in aroma and in what they are made for.
What does frankincense add to an essential oil blend?
Frankincense adds a warm, resinous aroma that lingers and gives a blend staying power. It settles under the quicker, brighter oils and helps a mix hold together as it wears. Frankincense also blends easily with many other oils, which is part of why it turns up in so many recipes.
Which frankincense blends have the deepest, most incense-like aroma?
The deepest, most incense-like blends are the meditation and incense-style ones, such as Six Kings and Four Wise Men. These lean hardest on the incense tradition frankincense grew up in, so they come across warm, deep and smoky rather than bright. If you want the most traditional frankincense character, start with one of those.
How do frankincense and myrrh differ?
Frankincense and myrrh are aromatic tree resins from different trees, frankincense from the Boswellia and myrrh from the Commiphora. Both have been used as incense and worked into perfume for thousands of years. Our Frankincense and Myrrh blend puts the two together.
Is frankincense essential oil phototoxic?
No, frankincense essential oil is not phototoxic, since it has no furanocoumarins, the compounds behind sun-sensitivity. On its own, a frankincense blend is safe to wear on skin that will see daylight. Some blends here also carry citrus oils, though, which can raise sun-sensitivity in a leave-on formula, so read a citrus-holding blend before daytime skin use.
Which frankincense blends are ready to use on skin, and which need diluting first?
The frankincense body oil and the carrier-based formulas are ready to use on skin, since they come already blended into a base oil. The neat essential-oil blends are the concentrated ones, and want diluting in a carrier oil first, never worn at full strength. When in doubt, assume a blend is neat and dilute it before use.
Why should frankincense oils and blends be kept cool and dark?
Frankincense is monoterpene-rich, and those monoterpenes break down as the oil ages, which can leave it rougher on skin as time passes. Because of that, the blends keep best somewhere cool, dark and closed, and used while they are fresh. Heat, light and air are what age them fastest, so a cool cupboard and a tight cap go a long way.
