What Is Frankincense? Scent, Origin and Chemistry of Olibanum
In short: Frankincense (also called olibanum) is the dried resin of trees of the genus Boswellia, which grow mainly in the south of the Arabian Peninsula and in the Horn of Africa. It smells fresh, resinous, slightly lemony and balsamic, and when burned it releases the typical, solemn church scent. Its character does not come from its main components but from traces of special molecules that chemists only identified in 2016. In perfumery, frankincense is valued as an elegant fixative that helps fragrances last longer.
Frankincense has accompanied people for thousands of years: in temples, in churches, in the homes of the Arab world and today in many modern perfumes as well. Yet few people know where the resin comes from, why it smells so distinctive and why the trees are under threat today. In this article you will learn everything important about the scent of the gods.
What is frankincense?
Frankincense is a so called gum resin, a milky blend of resin, gum and essential oil. It flows out when the bark of certain trees of the torchwood family is cut, and hardens in the air into light, amber colored grains. The Roman poet Ovid called these drops “tears”, an image that has stayed with us to this day.
The most important species are:
| Species | Origin | Known as |
|---|---|---|
| Boswellia sacra | Oman, Yemen | Arabian frankincense, the classic frankincense of antiquity |
| Boswellia carterii and Boswellia frereana | Somalia, Arabian Peninsula | important sources of frankincense oil and resinoid |
| Boswellia papyrifera | Ethiopia, Eritrea, Sudan | today the main source of frankincense on the world market |
| Boswellia serrata | India | Indian frankincense, also used in the Ayurvedic tradition |
Olibanum is the technical term for the same resin. In English, the word “incense” is also used for frankincense, although it can refer to any material burned for its fragrance.
Where does frankincense come from? A journey along the Incense Route
Wadi Hadramaut in the south of present day Yemen is regarded as the region where frankincense and myrrh originated. Both resins are among the oldest scents known to humankind. Assyrian clay tablets record frankincense offerings to the sun god in Nineveh. In the time of Hammurabi, one thousand talents of frankincense, around 29,000 kilograms, are said to have been burned every year in the temple of Bel in Babylon.
The trade was strictly controlled. The Roman scholar Pliny wrote that frankincense grew only in Saba, a remote part of Arabia protected by mountains. Harvesting was a hereditary privilege of a few families, and before the resin could be sold, the priests took one tenth for their god.
How important this trade was is shown by the “Land of Frankincense” in Oman, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000. It includes the frankincense trees of Wadi Dawkah, the caravan oasis of Shisr and the ancient ports of Khor Rori and Al Baleed. In Wadi Dawkah, frankincense from Boswellia sacra is still harvested today. UNESCO describes frankincense as one of the most important luxury goods of the Old World.
Incidentally, smoke is even hidden in the word “perfume”: it goes back to the Latin “per fumum”, meaning “through smoke”. Humanity’s first fragrances were burned resins, woods and barks.
What does frankincense smell like?
The resin itself smells fresh, resinous and balsamic, with a delicate lemony note and a hint of pine. The essential oil distilled from it is pale yellow and smells similar, clear and light. When the resin is burned, a completely different scent emerges: warm, smoky and solemn. This is the smell most people know from churches.
The scent varies considerably depending on species and origin. Frankincense oil from Aden, for example, consists of almost one half pinene, a substance that is also abundant in pine resin. The oil from Eritrea, on the other hand, consists of more than one half octyl acetate. If you compare different types of frankincense, you will discover a whole palette ranging from fresh and citrusy to warm and balsamic.
The chemistry of frankincense: the mystery of the olibanic acids
For a long time, frankincense was a puzzle for chemists. Around 250 components were found in frankincense oil and in the smoke of the resin. Yet the main substances such as pinene do not explain why frankincense smells so unmistakably of frankincense.
The answer only came in 2016. A research team from Nice and Turin isolated two molecules from three kilograms of Somali frankincense oil. They occur there in amounts of only a few hundred parts per million, and yet they carry the typical frankincense scent. Neither had ever been found in nature before. The researchers named them olibanic acids. One form is regarded as particularly powerful, with a distinctly church like frankincense smell, while the other is more abundant and smells very similar. It is a fine example of how, in the world of scent, it is often not the quantity that matters but the effect of individual, extremely potent molecules.
Another interesting substance is incensole. It occurs only in frankincense and is itself odorless. Together with related resin compounds, it is thought to be a starting material for the breakdown products that form the typical smell of frankincense smoke when the resin is burned. Exactly which molecules these are has still not been fully clarified.
Synthetic frankincense notes are rare. The only odorant that truly conveys the typical scent of frankincense oil is called Mystikal and was launched in 2009. Its humid, resinous frankincense smell was surprising at first. Only the discovery of the olibanic acids showed why: both belong to the same class of substances.
Frankincense and myrrh: what is the difference?
Frankincense and myrrh are often mentioned in the same breath, not least because of the Christmas story. Both come from the torchwood family, and both are obtained by cutting the bark. Their scent, however, is different:
| Frankincense (olibanum) | Myrrh | |
|---|---|---|
| Tree | genus Boswellia | genus Commiphora |
| Color | amber colored, somewhat lighter | amber colored, somewhat darker |
| Scent | fresh, resinous, lemony, solemn and smoky when burned | warm, sweet, leathery and balsamic |
| Scent carriers | traces of olibanic acids | special compounds with a furan ring |
In perfumery, the two complement each other beautifully. The combination of frankincense and myrrh has formed the base of many warm, deep compositions for decades.
Frankincense in perfume: why perfumers love it
Two raw materials are obtained from the resin: steam distillation produces frankincense oil, and extraction with a solvent produces the resinoid. Both are valued for their intense balsamic scent and their strong fixative properties. The resinoid is used especially in oriental fragrances because it holds more volatile notes in place.
Frankincense usually serves as a subtle nuance in the background. It can be found, for example, in classics such as “Shalimar” (Guerlain, 1925) and “Opium” (Yves Saint Laurent, 1977). But there are also fragrances that place it at the center: in “Encens et Lavande” (Serge Lutens, 1995), frankincense oil and resin together make up more than 16 percent of the formula. From 2002, Comme des Garçons even dedicated an entire series to frankincense.
Frankincense is remarkably versatile. Like sandalwood, it is a light, radiant base note that carries milder notes without overpowering them. It harmonizes with citrus fruits just as well as with spices and flowers. Proven partners are:
- Spices: cardamom, nutmeg, black pepper and cinnamon
- Woods: sandalwood, cedar, vetiver and oud
- Resins: myrrh, labdanum and benzoin, the building blocks of the amber accord
- Freshness: bergamot and other citrus notes, which emphasize the bright character of frankincense
Is frankincense listed on the label?
Frankincense itself is not one of the fragrance substances that must be listed individually on perfumes as potential allergens. Since Regulation (EU) 2023/1545, however, pinene is one of these substances, and pinene is the main component of some frankincense oils. If a perfume contains enough of it, “Pinene” therefore appears in the list of ingredients. This rule has applied to newly marketed products since 31 July 2026, in Switzerland as well (as of October 2026).
Burning frankincense: how to enjoy the scent at home
In the Arab world, scenting the home with resins and woods has been part of everyday life for centuries, much like bakhoor. A few simple rules keep the experience beautiful and safe:
- Less is more. A few small grains are enough for one room. Frankincense is intense.
- Gentle heat. On a warmer with a mesh or a mica plate, the scent unfolds more gently and with less smoke. On glowing charcoal, more smoke is produced along with the typical church scent.
- Ventilate well. Burning incense releases fine particles and gases such as carbon monoxide. Experts therefore recommend ventilating regularly when burning incense at home.
- Place it safely. Use a heat resistant bakhoor burner on a stable, non flammable surface, never leave glowing charcoal unattended and keep children, pets, curtains and paper away.
- Store it properly. Keep the resin airtight, cool and dark so that the volatile scent substances do not escape.
Is frankincense endangered?
Unfortunately, yes. A major study published in the journal Nature Sustainability in 2019 examined 23 populations of Boswellia papyrifera in Ethiopia, Eritrea and Sudan with more than 21,000 trees. More than three quarters of the populations lacked young trees, in some cases for decades. The researchers expect frankincense production from this species to halve within 20 years. They name cattle grazing, frequent fires and excessive tapping of the trees as the causes. Other Boswellia species face similar threats. Cattle exclosures, firebreaks, new plantings and gentler harvesting can help the populations recover.
For you as a fragrance lover, this means: frankincense is a precious natural product. It is worth enjoying it consciously and sparingly.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
What is the difference between frankincense and olibanum?
There is none. Olibanum is the technical term for the resin of Boswellia trees, frankincense its common English name. You will find both terms in fragrance descriptions.
What does frankincense smell like?
The resin smells fresh, resinous and slightly lemony. When burned, it smells warm, smoky and solemn, just as you know it from churches.
Why does frankincense smell like church?
Because frankincense has been burned in Christian services for centuries, especially in the Catholic and Orthodox churches. The typical scent comes from the olibanic acids and from substances that only form when the resin is burned.
Where does the best frankincense come from?
Boswellia sacra from Oman and Yemen is regarded as the classic frankincense of antiquity. Which type you like best is a matter of taste: the species differ noticeably, from fresh and citrusy to warm and balsamic.
Does frankincense go well with oud?
Very well. The bright, resinous freshness of frankincense forms a beautiful contrast to the dark, woody depth of oud. Both are among the traditional scents of the Arab world.
Is burning frankincense safe?
As with any smoke, fine particles and combustion gases are released. So burn it in moderation, ventilate well and ideally use a burner with gentle heat.
Conclusion
Frankincense is much more than a church scent. It is one of humanity’s oldest perfumes, a treasure of the Incense Route and a small chemical wonder whose secret was only revealed a few years ago. Whether as a subtle note in a perfume or as fragrant smoke in your home: once you know its story, you enjoy it with entirely different senses.
Discover oriental incense and matching burners in our bakhoor collection.
Sources
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- Bauer, Kurt; Garbe, Dorothea; Surburg, Horst (1997): Common Fragrance and Flavor Materials. Preparation, Properties and Uses. 3rd edition. Weinheim: Wiley-VCH.
- Ohloff, Günther; Pickenhagen, Wilhelm; Kraft, Philip; Grau, Fanny (2022): Scent and Chemistry. The Molecular World of Odors. 2nd edition. Weinheim: Wiley-VCH.
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- Wageningen University & Research (2019): Frankincense in peril. Press release, 1 July 2019. https://www.wur.nl/en/newsarticle/frankincense-in-peril.htm (accessed 17 October 2026)
- UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Land of Frankincense. https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1010 (accessed 17 October 2026)
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- European Commission (2023): Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/1545 of 26 July 2023 on the labelling of fragrance allergens in cosmetic products. EUR-Lex. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:32023R1545