Derived from the resin of Boswellia trees, Frankincense has been used for centuries in religious ceremonies, skincare, and holistic healing. Known for its earthy, calming aroma, Frankincense promotes relaxation, reduces stress, and supports emotional balance. It’s also a popular choice for improving skin health, reducing signs of aging, and improving the appearance of scars. Whether used in aromatherapy, skincare, or wellness routines, Frankincense offers versatile benefits for both mind and body.
Frankincense Essential Oil is derived from the resin of the Boswellia tree, which is native to regions such as the Middle East, Africa, and India – we sustainably and ethically source ours from Somaliland. The resin is collected by making cuts into the tree bark, it is then left to harden and is later harvested. The Essential Oil is typically extracted through steam distillation from this resin, resulting in a clear, golden oil. We test every batch we receive here in our Hampshire Headquarters as we have our own on-site lab and chemist, this ensures we only provide our customers with pure, high quality Essential Oil.
Frankincense oil has a rich, warm, and earthy scent with slight notes of spice and sweetness. It’s often described as grounding and calming and has been used in religious ceremonies and rituals, especially in ancient Egyptian practices and in Christianity, for thousands of years. As is well known, it was one of the gifts given to the new-born Jesus, according to Christian tradition and is therefore a popular oil used to celebrate this festive period of time and is often found in Christmas aromatherapy and home fragrance blends. A simple way to experience the benefits of this beautiful Essential Oil is to add 3-5 drops of Frankincense Essential Oil to a diffuser with water to fill your room with its soothing aroma. This can help reduce feelings associated with stress and worry and improve overall mood. A super-simple way to use it on-the-go is to pop 2 drops onto a tissue, then inhale deeply for an instant calming effect; this is a great way to pause and reset.
Can Frankincense Essential Oil Boost our Self-Care Routines?
The short answer is yes, hugely! There are many ways to use Frankincense for modern wellness practises. As with all Essential Oils, Frankincense must always be diluted prior to application – mix 2-3 drops of Frankincense with a tablespoon of carrier oil (such as Coconut or Jojoba oil) and apply it to your skin. It can help skin prone to acne due to its naturally antibacterial properties and can promote natural skin regeneration and the appearance of scars. Frankincense is a fabulous oil to use in massage, either alone in a carrier oil like Grapeseed, or blended with other Essential Oils. Here are some of our favourite combinations…
The bright, uplifting scent of citrus oils pairs well with the earthy tones of Frankincense, creating a refreshing yet calming blend. These combinations can be great for mood enhancement, stress relief, and promoting focus. Try Orange, Lemon, Bergamot or Grapefruit to blend in equal measures with Frankincense. It’s important to note that you mustn’t ever increase the ratio of Essential Oil to Carrier oil, always stay between 1-3%, so for 10mls of carrier oils, add 1-3 drops in total of Essential Oil, so 2 drops of Frankincense and 1 drop of Grapefruit. These citrussy blends will help you feel awakened and calmly uplifted.
Try woody oils like Cedarwood, Sandalwood, Pine and Cypress: 3 Drops of Frankincense + 3 drops of Cedarwood in diffuser makes the perfect meditation blend – the woodiness will deepen the grounding effects of Frankincense. These blends are perfect for encouraging rest, de-stressing, and creating a soothing, earthy atmosphere, ideal for meditation or yoga.
Floral Oils are also beautiful when combined with Frankincense; think Lavender, Rose, Ylang Ylang and Geranium – add equal Ylang Ylang and Frankincense drops to an oil burner when you want to rest; it’s a great blend if you’re snuggling down with a good book or just enjoying some peace. Don’t forget an oil burner is not recommended for use at bedtime so you could also add this blend to your bath water with some honey or milk (which will act as a dispersant for the oils and ensure they’re evenly distributed in the water) and you can enjoy the deeply relaxing nature of the blend.
Focus on Women’s Hormone Support
Frankincense is believed to help balance hormones, especially during menstruation or menopause. As October is Menopause awareness month, we thought we would dig a little deeper to see how you can soothe symptoms of menopause with this special oil. Menopause and Peri-Menopausal Symptoms are vast and varied, with the period of life affecting every woman differently and Aromatherapy can be used as a complimentary therapy to help guide you through this time. Symptoms vary from physical ones such as the well-known hot flashes, night sweats, joint pain, irregular periods and sleep disturbances, to emotional ones such as anxiety, low moods, brain fog and panic. This list is by no means exhaustive, and symptoms will differ from person to person. What we do know though, is that using Essential Oils to support you physically and emotionally, can help a woman feel empowered through this time.
When Oestrogen production drops in a woman’s body, it can also have an impact on our flexibility in our joints. We all know that massage can be hugely beneficial in helping boost circulation and easing aches and pains, tension and tightness. A professional massage is always the preferred option – many therapists will offer services tailored to the part of the body you may be experiencing pain or stiffness in. However, between seeing your trusted therapist, you can always try creating your own massage blend with Frankincense as it has naturally soothing properties that can help ease joints and soothe tense muscles. Self-massage can also be beneficial for sore joints when you’re on the go.
We all know about the benefits of Lavender when it comes to encouraging rest and relaxation, try blending 3 drops of Lavender, 3 drops of Frankincense and create a little pillow spray by adding this to 250ml witch hazel or vodka and 250ml water in a spray bottle to spritz on your bedding or pillow before sleep. While Frankincense oil can be a helpful part of managing menopausal symptoms, it’s important to use it alongside other healthy lifestyle practices such as plenty of exercise and a healthy balanced diet and consult with your GP for severe or unmanageable symptoms.
Festive Frankincense
Of course, because of its associations with the Christmas, Frankincense is one of our favourite go-to Essential Oils in the festive season. For a Christmassy blend with Frankincense Essential Oil, combining it with warm, spicy, and citrusy oils can create a cosy, uplifting, and holiday-inspired atmosphere. Here’s a great blend recipe for the festive season:
Festive Frankincense Blend
- 3 drops Frankincense (grounding and calming)
- 2 drops Sweet Orange (bright and uplifting)
- 2 drops Cinnamon (warm and spicy)
- 1 drop Clove (rich, punchy spice)
- 1 drop Pine (fresh and foresty)
This blend captures the essence of Christmas with the warmth of spices and the freshness of Pine, while Frankincense adds a spiritual and grounding note. You can diffuse this blend in your home to create a welcoming atmosphere or add it to homemade potpourri or room spray (see above recipe).
Because of its diverse applications, Frankincense is a fabulous oil used for physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Its versatility makes it a go-to essential oil for many purposes at any time of year, not just at Christmas!
