Frankincense
Fresh, Floral, Piney, with Citrus Top Notes
This resin was treasured by ancient royalty and is still today an essential friend and base note.
About the trees
We distill our frankincense oil from Boswellia sacra syn. Boswellia carteri trees. This species grows in Somaliland, Somalia, Oman, and Yemen, from almost sea level up to 1,700m in the mountains. These trees are famous for their ability to grow directly out of rocks, surviving only on mist and sun, although they can also be found growing in stony soil in the bottoms of wadis.
In Somalia the trees are referred to as “Mohor”, while in Arabic they are called “Luban.” Somali harvesters called the resin “beeyo” and liken the trees and their cloudy white resin to camels and the milk they produce.
Harvesting and production
Frankincense is harvested by making small cuts into the bark and waiting for the resin to seep out. Harvesters wait 14-21 days for the resin to harden before collecting it and re-opening the wound to allow more to come out. The harvest season takes place over 3-6 months–normally June-October in Somaliland and Somalia and October-March in Oman. Harvesting areas are often very remote, located deep in the mountains far from villages. Harvesters often spend months camping in caves in order to collect the resin–a serious feat of dedication!
Communities in these areas have been harvesting frankincense for thousands of years, and have developed sophisticated bodies of traditional ecological knowledge on how to harvest and manage the trees. Good harvesting practices can extract the resin while not causing the trees unnecessary harm, while overharvesting can seriously damage the trees–making monitoring a critically important part of production.
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Sustainability and traceability
We partner directly with harvesters and harvesting communities in Somaliland, Puntland (Somalia) and Oman to ensure full traceability, ethical purchasing practices, and sustainable ecosystem management. Using digital apps, GIS, and digital payments, we track and document the supply chain from tree to finished product, ensuring full visibility on the production. We also provide pre-financing to producers and conduct an active research program in partnership with universities, NGOs, and government agencies to support conservation of the frankincense trees.
Additional Species
Interested in other types of frankincense? We also work with some of the rarer species, such as Boswellia frereana, B. rivae, B. occulta, and B. dalzielii on a bespoke basis. Get in touch if you’re interested in sourcing these materials!
