Frankincense oil is an essential oil steam-distilled from the hardened resin of Boswellia trees, a group of species native to parts of Africa, India, and the Middle East. It has a warm, woody, slightly citrusy scent and has been used for thousands of years in religious ceremonies, perfumery, and traditional medicine. Today it’s one of the most popular essential oils for aromatherapy, skincare, and general wellness.
Where Frankincense Comes From
Frankincense resin is produced mainly by four Boswellia species, each from a different region. Boswellia serrata grows in India. Boswellia carterii comes from East Africa and China. Boswellia frereana is found in Somalia. Boswellia sacra grows in the Arabian Peninsula, particularly Oman and Yemen. When the bark of these trees is cut, it exudes a milky sap that hardens into pale, waxy lumps called “tears.” These tears are then steam-distilled to produce the essential oil.
The quality of the resin depends on climate, soil, and harvest timing. Larger, lighter-colored tears generally indicate higher quality. The purest and most expensive resin ranges from clear to silvery white with a faint green tint, though the golden or amber variety is what most Western consumers encounter.
What’s in the Oil
The chemical makeup of frankincense oil varies significantly depending on the Boswellia species, where the tree grew, and how the oil was extracted. The dominant compound in most varieties is alpha-pinene, a monoterpene with a fresh, pine-like scent. Depending on the source, alpha-pinene can make up anywhere from 5% to over 80% of the oil. Samples of Boswellia sacra resin from one region in Oman contained 81% alpha-pinene, while samples from a nearby area had 60%. Limonene, which has a citrus character, is the other notable component, typically present in smaller amounts ranging from about 4% to 14%.
Overall, the resin oil is composed of roughly 42.5% diterpenes, 13.1% monoterpenes, and 1% sesquiterpenes. The remaining fraction includes a range of minor compounds like myrcene, sabinene, and linalool that contribute to the oil’s complex aroma.
One important distinction: boswellic acids, the compounds most studied for anti-inflammatory effects in supplement form, are large molecules that do not survive steam distillation. They are found in the raw resin and resin extracts but are essentially absent from the essential oil. This matters because many health claims about “frankincense” are based on boswellic acid research, which doesn’t directly apply to the distilled oil you’d buy in a small bottle.
How People Use It
Most people use frankincense oil in one of three ways: diffused into the air, applied to the skin (diluted in a carrier oil), or added in tiny amounts as a flavoring agent.
In aromatherapy, frankincense is prized for its calming effect. Inhaling essential oils has been shown to reduce self-reported stress and anxiety, and some research links aromatherapy inhalation to measurable drops in the stress hormone cortisol and reductions in blood pressure. These studies typically use blends rather than frankincense alone, so the oil’s individual contribution is hard to isolate. Still, its warm, resinous scent is widely considered grounding, and it’s a staple in meditation and relaxation practices.
For skincare, frankincense oil is added to serums, creams, and DIY blends. Animal studies suggest it may support wound healing and protect against UV-induced skin damage. One of its key components, limonene, has been shown to increase re-epithelialization (the process of new skin forming over a wound) and boost the growth of new blood vessels at the wound site in rat models. Research on nanoparticle formulations of frankincense oil found it helped preserve normal skin structure and collagen integrity after UV exposure, outperforming unformulated oil. Human clinical data remains limited, though.
Anti-Inflammatory Properties
Frankincense, broadly speaking, works against inflammation through several pathways. It inhibits the production of leukotrienes, which are molecules your immune system releases during allergic and inflammatory reactions. It also blocks two enzymes involved in pain and swelling (the same enzymes targeted by common over-the-counter pain relievers) and reduces oxidative stress, the cellular damage caused by unstable molecules. On top of that, frankincense compounds help regulate immune cells from both the fast-acting and longer-term branches of the immune system.
Again, much of this research involves boswellic acids from resin extracts rather than the steam-distilled essential oil. The essential oil’s monoterpenes, particularly alpha-pinene, do have documented anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activity, but the effects are milder than what you’d get from a standardized boswellic acid supplement.
Safety and Side Effects
Frankincense oil is generally well tolerated. In the United States, the FDA lists olibanum oil (the formal name for frankincense oil) as Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) for use as a flavoring agent in food. That said, GRAS status applies to the tiny amounts used in food flavoring, not to drinking the oil freely.
When taken orally in extract or supplement form, the most commonly reported side effects are digestive: nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhea, loss of appetite, and acid reflux. These are typically mild.
Skin reactions are possible. At least one documented case involved a woman who developed contact dermatitis, including blistering, after applying a cream containing Boswellia serrata to a burn. She later tested positive for a Boswellia allergy via patch testing. If you’re using frankincense oil topically for the first time, applying a small amount diluted in a carrier oil to a patch of skin and waiting 24 hours is a reasonable precaution.
Pregnant and breastfeeding women should avoid frankincense products. Safety data for these populations is lacking, and traditional Indian medical literature suggests the resin may have the potential to induce miscarriage. People taking blood thinners like warfarin should also avoid it, as frankincense may amplify the drug’s effect.
Choosing a Quality Oil
There is no regulated definition of “therapeutic grade” essential oil. The term is a marketing label created by individual companies, not a standard set by any government agency or independent body. Two bottles labeled “therapeutic grade” from different brands may have wildly different chemical profiles.
What actually matters is the species, the origin, and the extraction method. A good supplier will list the Boswellia species on the label (sacra, carterii, serrata, or frereana), identify the country of origin, and confirm the oil was steam-distilled. Some also provide a GC/MS report, a lab analysis showing the exact percentages of compounds in that batch. Since alpha-pinene content alone can range from 5% to 80% across products, a GC/MS report is the most reliable way to know what you’re actually getting.
Price is another signal. Frankincense resin is hand-harvested from slow-growing trees in arid regions, and yields of essential oil per kilogram of resin are modest. If a bottle is dramatically cheaper than competitors, it may be diluted or adulterated with synthetic fragrance compounds.