Our story begins with the Boswellia tree. Whether you're walking among the limestone cliffs of Oman or the rocky plains of Somalia, you're sure to come across a frankincense-giving tree. Sacred Frankincense essential oil is derived from the sap of the Boswellia sacra in Oman, and Frankincense essential oil comes from the Boswellia carterii in Somalia—both trees spindly, ethereal, and wild in their own right.
These two varieties of Frankincense have some slight differences that we can use to our advantage. Frankincense (Boswellia Carterii) has a woodsy, earthy aroma while Sacred Frankincense (Boswellia Sacra) has a softer, slightly sweeter aroma. Both are good for diffusing for grounding and relaxing.
Sacred Frankincense (Boswellia Sacra) is traditionally believed to be the specific type of frankincense given to Jesus at his birth. It is highly regarded for its healing properties and contains a higher amount of the constituent alpha-pinene, which may help soothe inflammation. Sacred Frankincense is a key ingredient in Progessence Plus Serum, a wild-yam progesterone serum for women that helps with cycle and hormone support.
Frankincense (Boswellia Carterii) has higher levels of the constituent limonene, known for its ability to support and stimulate the immune system. This is one of our favorite oils to use when our defenses go down, especially during cold and flu season! It's a mainstay in our daily wellness roller and even in our DIY chest rubs as well as many Young Living products used for immune support.
When you need some Frankincense, definitely use whichever variety you have on hand! This oil is a mainstay in our cabinets for meditation, skincare, immune health, and more. But when it comes to really honing in on what you need, you can utilize the differences in these two varieties of Frankincense!
