Heidi Norton
Frankincense is a gem-like resin from the Boswellia Sacra tree, which is native to southern Arabia and the Horn of Africa. It has been used for centuries for its health and wellness benefits, from reducing stress and depression to promoting oral health and acting as an anti-inflammatory. It is also used in beauty products and fragrances. Burning frankincense on a hot charcoal disc is a common way to use it, but it can also be ingested by infusing it with water or chewing it. To make frankincense incense, you can purchase unscented incense sticks and apply your own scent using essential oils. Alternatively, you can make your own incense sticks using natural ingredients such as wood powder, gum, and essential oils.
How to make Frankincense Incense
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Ingredients | Frankincense resin, Myrrh resin, Rosemary powder, Piñon Pine essential oil, Bamboo charcoal |
| Tools | Small bowl, Coffee grinder, Heat-safe incense burner or surface, Tongs |
| Process | Measure and mix ingredients in a bowl, Burn the mixture on a charcoal disc in a heat-safe burner or dish |
| Notes | Use dried rosemary for the powder, Grind the resin before adding oil to extract compounds, Store essential oil in a dark glass bottle |
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What You'll Learn
Burning frankincense resin with a charcoal disc
First, light a charcoal disc with a match or lighter. Hold the disc with a pair of tongs to avoid burning your fingers and place it over a heat-safe surface, such as a stovetop. Hold the flame to the charcoal disc until it ignites, which usually takes 10-15 seconds. You will know it is ready when it turns ashy grey and begins to smoke. Some sparking is normal, and pieces may crumble, so be sure to do this over a stovetop.
Place the lit charcoal disc in a metal incense bowl, also known as a censer, or any heat-proof metal container. Make sure the indent on the disc is facing upward, creating a small "nest" for the frankincense. Let the charcoal heat up for about 5-7 minutes. You can also place the charcoal on a small mound of sand inside the bowl to help dissipate the heat. Always place the bowl on a heat-proof pad to protect your table.
Now, place a small piece of frankincense resin on top of the charcoal. A tiny piece, about the size of a grain of rice, will create a lot of smoke and scent. If you notice a strong acrid smoke, try allowing the charcoal to burn down a bit and turn grey before adding more resin.
Charcoal discs typically last 45-60 minutes, so you can let them burn out naturally. Never leave burning charcoal unattended. If you need to extinguish it early, pour water over the disc in a sink or outdoors to avoid a mess. Wait 30-60 minutes for it to cool, then dispose of it.
You can also burn frankincense resin without charcoal by using an aromatherapy oil warmer. These are available in ceramic or glass varieties and can be purchased from most stores that sell candles. Pour a small amount of vegetable oil into the dish, and then add the resin. You can also use tea light candles and place them underneath a can with holes poked in the side for airflow. Fill an old tea light candle halfway with vegetable oil and resin, then place it on top of the can.
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Making frankincense essential oil at home
Frankincense essential oil has been used for thousands of years, with its first recorded use being in biblical times, when gold, frankincense and myrrh were brought to baby Jesus. Frankincense is also known as Boswellia Carterii, and the oil is made from the sap of the Boswellia tree, which is found in Africa and the Middle East. The oil has a musky, aromatic fragrance and is popular in skincare for its anti-inflammatory, anti-acne, and anti-wrinkle properties. It is also used in aromatherapy and to create powerful blends with other essential oils.
There are several methods to make frankincense essential oil at home. The first method involves using a steam distiller, which can be rented or purchased. The second method involves obtaining the resin from a tree or buying it online, and then combining it with a carrier oil.
If you are obtaining the resin yourself, you will need to powder the resin using a mortar and pestle or an electric grinder. You can then add the powdered resin to a carrier oil such as safflower, almond, jojoba, olive, coconut, hazelnut, or argan oil. Heat the mixture gently for several hours to allow the oils from the resin to infuse into the carrier oil. Allow the mixture to cool, and then strain it using a cheesecloth or coffee filter to remove any solid particles.
The strength of the final oil will depend on the ratio of resin to carrier oil, which can range from 1:2 to 1:8. If you desire a stronger oil, you can repeat the process, using the infused oil as your carrier oil for the next batch of resin. This method can be sped up by using a slow cooker, although the final product may not be as potent.
It is important to note that frankincense trees grow in hot climates, so obtaining the resin may be difficult depending on your location. Additionally, the quality of the raw materials will determine the quality of the final product, so it is important to use fresh, high-quality resin and oil.
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Using frankincense in incense sticks
Frankincense, also known as "tears", is a popular ingredient in incense sticks due to its sweet, woody, and resinous fragrance. It is believed to offer positive health and mind benefits, such as enhancing one's mood and reducing stress and anxiety.
To make your own frankincense incense sticks, you will need to purchase pre-prepared, unscented sticks. Ordinary bamboo sticks will not work as they won't be able to hold the fragrance. You can usually find these at your local aromatherapy store or online at a very affordable price.
Once you have the sticks, you will need to prepare your fragrance. For a simple granulated incense fragrance, mix one part frankincense, half a part of sandalwood granules, and a quarter part of dried lemon or orange peel. Make sure the peel is ground into very small bits. Mix the ingredients thoroughly and store the mixture in a screw-lid glass container. Allow the mixture to sit for several days so the fragrances can meld and settle.
After your fragrance mixture is ready, you can prepare your incense sticks. Measure out 20ml (4 tsp) of dipropylene glycol (DPG) into a rectangular box or lipped dish that is long enough to fit your unscented sticks. Dipropylene glycol is a chemical that helps your incense burn properly and reduces black smoke. Then, add 10ml (2 tsp) of your fragrance mixture to the dish. You can experiment with different fragrance oils or essential oils to create unique scents, but for a true frankincense fragrance, your mixture should be predominantly frankincense. Place the sticks in the dish and let them soak up the scented oil. Allow them to dry completely before using them.
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Frankincense's health and wellness benefits
Frankincense, also known as olibanum, is derived from the resin of the Boswellia tree, which is native to Oman, Yemen, India, Africa, and the Middle East. It has been used as incense for thousands of years, and its health and wellness benefits are just as renowned.
Frankincense is believed to have anti-inflammatory properties, which may help reduce symptoms of diseases in the stomach, including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. In a study, people with chronic diarrhea who were given Boswellia cured their problem at a better rate than those given a placebo. Frankincense also appears to offer benefits for arthritis and gut and oral health. It may even have anti-cancer and anti-asthma properties.
In traditional Indian medicine, frankincense is used to treat gastrointestinal tract conditions such as diarrhea and vomiting, as well as arthritis, asthma, and various skin diseases. It is also used for pain relief and skincare, and in Western medicine, it is used in aromatherapy to ease stress or anxiety.
To make frankincense incense, you can purchase unscented incense and apply your own scent by soaking it in essential oils. You can also burn frankincense resin on a piece of hot charcoal, which is a technique going back thousands of years. If you want to burn the resin, you will need a heat-safe incense burner or surface, such as natural bamboo charcoal, and a non-flammable container filled with sand or another heat-proof material. You can then sprinkle a pinch of incense onto the charcoal.
For a loose incense blend, you can mix 14g of frankincense and myrrh resin in a small bowl, stirring with your fingers. You can then add 1 teaspoon of rosemary powder and 10 drops of piñon pine essential oil.
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Frankincense's history and origins
Frankincense, also known as olibanum, is an aromatic resin obtained from trees of the genus Boswellia in the family Burseraceae. The English word "frankincense" comes from the Old French expression "franc encens", meaning "true incense" or "high-quality incense". The word "franc" in Old French meant "noble" or "pure".
Frankincense has been traded on the Somali and Arabian Peninsulas for over 5,000 years. Greek historian Herodotus wrote that frankincense was harvested from trees in southern Arabia, and that the gum was dangerous to harvest due to winged snakes guarding the trees. Pliny the Elder also mentioned frankincense in his "Naturalis Historia". By 1000 BC, frankincense was known and valued in Babylon, Egypt, Rome, Greece, and China. The domestication of the camel in 1500-1200 BC allowed the incense trade to grow, with camels acting as bearers of heavy loads of fragrant incense, travelling from oasis to oasis.
The Incense Road, which brought currency, goods, and progress to the region as early as 1500 BC, was made possible by the domestication of the camel. Frankincense was one of the foundations of this trade route, which was responsible for the construction of cities, forts, and irrigation systems in the harsh desert. At the time of Christ's birth, the Roman Empire was importing around 3,000 tons of frankincense each year from controlled supplies in the Middle East.
Today, 90% of the world's frankincense production comes from the Horn of Africa, predominantly from the border communities on the Somalia-Ethiopia border. Boswellia frereana grows in northern Somalia, while Boswellia sacra grows in Somalia and South Arabia. Frankincense is still mined in remote regions of the Arabian Peninsula, Africa, and India.
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Frequently asked questions
Frankincense is world-renowned for its health and wellness benefits, from easing stress and depression to acting as an anti-inflammatory and promoting oral health.
You will need frankincense resin, a charcoal disc, tongs, and an incense burner or heatproof dish filled with sand.
Hold the charcoal disc with the tongs and light one side of the disc with a flame until it glows and sparks. Place the disc in the burner or heatproof dish and wait for it to stop smoking. Select a piece of frankincense resin – if you are burning it in a small space, choose a smaller piece to reduce smoke and burn time.
