Frankincense Essential Oil

Overview

A warm, resinous essential oil distilled from frankincense resin, with millennia of history behind it.

Varieties we use

Boswellia Serrata
Boswellia Serrata Oil
Boswellia Frereana
Boswellia Frereana Oil

What it is

Frankincense Essential Oil is distilled from the resin of the Boswellia tree, harvested by scoring the bark and collecting the hardened sap. It carries a deep, resinous aroma and has been valued for thousands of years across cultures.

We work with two species — Boswellia serrata and Boswellia frereana — each bringing a slightly different character to the resin they produce.

Where it comes from and how it’s made

Boswellia trees grow in arid regions of the Horn of Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, and India. The resin is harvested from the bark and steam-distilled to draw out the essential oil.

What it does in a formulation

Contributes a warm, resinous, grounding note to a finished product’s scent profile.

Why Lovebee uses it

Frankincense carries such a deep, ancient weight to it — it’s been treasured for millennia, and that history feels present every time we work with it. We like offering both species because each brings its own subtle shade of that same warm, resinous character, giving a little more range to the scents we build around it.

Good to know

  • Used throughout our blended topical products; sold on its own as a single-note oil, it’s intended for diffuser use only.

Common questions

What's the difference between the two frankincense varieties?

Boswellia serrata and Boswellia frereana are different species of the same resin-producing tree, each with its own subtle take on frankincense’s warm, resinous character.

Where does Frankincense come from?

It’s distilled from Boswellia tree resin, harvested in arid regions of the Horn of Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, and India.

Can I apply this essential oil directly to my skin?

Not as a standalone oil — on its own, it’s intended for diffuser use only. You’ll already find it safely blended into a number of our topical products, though.

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