Katrina Rosales
Frankincense, a resin with valuable therapeutic compounds, has been used for thousands of years as a perfume, medicine, incense, and cosmetic. The best brand of frankincense incense depends on your preferences. Some popular vendors of high-quality frankincense include Apothecary's Garden, Mermade, and Scents of Earth. Bless International, available on Amazon, offers 100% natural and organic frankincense and myrrh incense sticks and cones. Etsy is another great option for purchasing frankincense, with many sellers offering unique, high-quality products, such as objects4money, a UK-based Etsy seller with a wide range of resins.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Vendor | Scents of Earth, Mermade, Apothecary's Garden, Arabiandilight, Omantonewyork, Objects4money, Badhafe Aroma, Bless International, Vimoksha, Calmveda |
| Type of Frankincense | Sacra, Carterii, Frereana, Neglecta, Thurimel, Rivae, Commiphora Confusa, Sumatrana Benzoin |
| Format | Resin, sticks, powdered |
| Purity | Synthetic fragrances are common, but pure resins are available |
| Country of Origin | Oman, Ethiopia, Somalia/Somaliland, India, Kenya, Northern Sumatra |
| Therapeutic Benefits | Anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, therapeutic compounds called Boswellic acids |
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What You'll Learn
The best frankincense incense for a 'church smell'
Frankincense is a common ingredient in church incense, with its warm, spicy, woody, and slightly citrusy aroma. The best frankincense incense for a church smell will likely be a blend of frankincense with other ingredients, as church incense tends to have a unique scent that can't be replicated with just frankincense alone. Here are some recommendations for frankincense incense blends that can help you achieve that familiar church smell:
Will & Baumer Pontifical Blend
This blend is considered the "classic scent" for Catholics and is a mix of frankincense, myrrh, benzoin, and cinnamon. It has a "high church" scent that is perfect for prayer and meditation and will give your space the smell of an old cathedral church.
Cathedral Frankincense
If you're looking for a simpler blend, Cathedral Frankincense is a popular choice. It is just frankincense without any additional ingredients, but it still captures the essence of church incense.
Minorien Frankincense
This brand comes highly recommended for those seeking a church-like fragrance. However, it might be challenging to find in Europe, so you may need to source it from the US.
Tennendo Omani Frankincense Sticks
These incense sticks are known to be quite close to the resin's fragrance. They offer a lighter and brighter scent compared to burning resin on charcoal.
Mother's Incense "Church Incense"
Mother's Incense offers a "Church Incense" variant that is said to be spot-on. However, their distribution might be limited to specific regions.
Black Baccara
Black Baccara is an underrated brand, but their fragrances are gorgeous. They offer a range of scents, including church incense blends with frankincense, myrrh, natural resins, spices, and fragrant woods.
Poesie - Sacred
Poesie's Sacred fragrance is a divine blend of frankincense, myrrh, natural resins, spices, and fragrant woods, reminiscent of the aroma found in Catholic churches.
Possets - Midnight Mass at Old St. Mary’s
Possets' Midnight Mass is a resinous incense blend that evokes the polished wood of pews, beeswax candles, and offertory fruits. It adds a touch of femininity to the traditional church incense scent.
Bpal Mummies of Mexico City
This fragrance from Bpal is an ancient, dusty church incense that will transport you to the ritual closets of the Pope. It is the real deal when it comes to capturing the essence of Catholic church incense.
Remember, the scent of church incense can vary depending on the region and specific formulation used by different churches. The quality of the incense and the sourcing of resins can also impact the overall aroma. When burning incense, it is recommended to use an incense burner or a thurible, and you can use charcoal to enhance the fragrance.
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Where to buy frankincense incense
Frankincense has been valued for its therapeutic and aromatic properties for thousands of years. With close to 20 types of frankincense resin on the market, it can be tricky to choose the right one. Here are some of the best places to buy frankincense incense:
Apothecary's Garden
Apothecary's Garden is an excellent place to start your search for frankincense. They offer a wide range of frankincense resins, including the highly prized Boswellia Frereana, also known as the "king of frankincense". This type of frankincense is known for its unique dry yet sweet "honey and spice" aroma and is used extensively in Arabia for incense, cosmetics, and natural chewing gum. Apothecary's Garden also provides informative guides on their website to help you navigate the different types of frankincense and make informed choices.
House of Frankincense
The House of Frankincense, established in 2009 at Camden Market, has become a leading authority in the frankincense trade. They carefully curate their grades of frankincense, sourced exclusively from Oman, ensuring unparalleled freshness and authenticity. Their physical store in Notting Hill invites customers to unwind in a tranquil environment surrounded by the soothing aroma of frankincense. Their knowledgeable team provides guidance and education on the different types of frankincense and its various benefits.
Amazon
Amazon offers a wide selection of frankincense incense from various brands. While some reviewers suggest that the top choices, such as HEM, may not be pure frankincense, others find their "frankincense and myrrh" sticks reasonably realistic. Amazon provides a convenient platform to explore different brands and blends, allowing you to read reviews and make informed purchases.
Etsy
For those in Europe, Etsy offers a great option without incurring large delivery fees. A UK Etsy seller, objects4money, offers a range of high-quality frankincense and myrrh resins. Etsy provides a marketplace for small businesses and hobbyists, ensuring you can find unique products and support independent sellers.
EBay
EBay is another online marketplace that offers a variety of frankincense incense options. You can find reputable sellers on eBay offering high-grade frankincense, such as the royal (hojary) frankincense, known as Boswellia Sacra. This variety, native to Oman, is considered the highest grade and was historically reserved for royalty. eBay sellers like "arabiandilight" and "omantonewyork" are recommended sources for excellent resins and powdered frankincense.
When purchasing frankincense, it is essential to know what type you are looking for, as different varieties have distinct scents and properties. It is also advisable to start with established vendors and order small amounts to familiarise yourself with the product before making bulk purchases.
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The different types of frankincense
Frankincense is a resin that is extracted from the Boswellia tree. There are close to 20 types of frankincense resins available on the market. The four primary types of frankincense resins are sourced from Oman, Ethiopia, Somalia/Somaliland, and India. The Boswellia sacra, also known as royal (hojary) frankincense, is the highest grade and was reserved for royalty in Oman. It has a strong citrus scent.
Frankincense Papyrifera, also known as Boswellia papyrifera, is another type of frankincense that grows in Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia, and west into Sudan. It is often referred to as Church Frankincense and is used by churches worldwide. It has a strong middle note, a soft yet persistent heart note, and a distinguished aroma with hints of orange peel.
Frankincense carterii is the most well-known frankincense in the West and is sourced from Somalia and Somaliland, which have the largest frankincense "forest" globally. It has a green, balsamic aroma and is the most popular and readily available variety. It is excellent for meditation, yoga, and relieving aches and pains.
Frankincense Dalzielii is a less common type of frankincense that resembles Frankincense Sacra Royal Hojari in appearance. However, it has a unique fragrance with citrus, mint, and camphor notes. It contains the highest percentage of therapeutic Boswellic acids and AKBA compared to other types.
Frankincense Serrata, or Boswellia serrata, is a type of frankincense that grows in India and yields higher levels of essential oil. It is primarily used in Ayurvedic medicine and burned as incense. It has a green, woody, and earthy scent that promotes clear and deep breathing.
Other types of frankincense include Boswellia neglecta, Rivae, and Commiphora confusa, which produce a clear aromatic resin known as "Thurimel" or Honey Frankincense. These frankincense types are valued locally as chewing gum and incense, producing a sweet aroma when burned.
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The best frankincense incense for yoga and meditation
Incense has been used for thousands of years by ancient civilisations, including India, Egypt, and China, for health reasons and spiritual enhancement. Burning incense during yoga and meditation can help create a positive and harmonious space, enhancing your experience and transforming your practice into a transcendent ritual.
Frankincense is a popular choice for spiritual cleansing due to its purifying properties. It promotes a sense of grounding and connection to the divine, helping to dispel feelings of anxiety. It also has psychoactive properties, creating a response in the brain similar to that of an antidepressant.
If you are looking for the best frankincense incense for yoga and meditation, here are some recommendations:
- Bodha's Ground variety combines the warming scents of hinoki, cedarwood, and frankincense. These sticks are made in Japan with organic woods and essential oils and produce a smokeless burn.
- Nippon Kodo's Morning Star incense sticks are ethically made with high-quality ingredients and fragrances. They offer a range of scents, including frankincense and myrrh, and are known for their delicate scent that does not cause headaches.
- Blackbird offers unique fragrances and incenses, with their most popular scent, Blood Countess, combining dragon's blood resin and frankincense for a mood-lifting experience.
- Temple of Incense sells a variety of incense sticks, including frankincense, which is said to be uplifting and helpful in dispelling anxiety.
When choosing the right frankincense incense, it is important to follow your nose and select the scent that suits your preference and intention. Whether you are looking to enhance your meditation practice or create a relaxing atmosphere for yoga, frankincense incense can be a powerful tool to deepen your experience.
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The best natural and organic frankincense incense
When it comes to the best natural and organic frankincense incense, there are a few brands that stand out. One popular option is Bless International, which offers 100% natural and organic frankincense and myrrh incense sticks. These sticks are handmade, hand-dipped, and soaked in essential oils for a minimum of 48 hours, resulting in a strong and long-lasting fragrance. They are ideal for various purposes such as purification, relaxation, yoga, and meditation.
Another highly regarded brand is Vimoksha, which offers natural and organic incense sticks crafted from pure frankincense and myrrh. These bambooless dhoop sticks are handmade and hand-dipped using only natural ingredients, ensuring a calming scent that enhances spiritual and mental well-being.
For those seeking organic frankincense, Raajsee is a popular choice. Their frankincense and myrrh products are known for being free of synthetic chemicals, providing a natural experience.
When purchasing frankincense, it is important to be aware of the different types available, such as sacra, carterii, frereana, and neglecta, each with its distinctive scent. For the highest grade, royal (hojary) frankincense, also known as Boswellia sacra from Oman, is the finest option, known for its citrusy fragrance. Reputable vendors for this variety include "arabiandilight" and "omantonewyork" on eBay.
While Amazon offers a wide range of frankincense, it is important to be cautious as the products may not always match their descriptions. However, some trusted vendors on Amazon include Scents of Earth, Mermade, and Apothecary's Garden, known for their high-quality resins. Additionally, Etsy sellers like objects4money can be a great option for those in the UK or Ireland, offering a range of high-quality resins.
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Frequently asked questions
The best frankincense incense for you depends on your preferences. However, the following brands have been positively reviewed: Bless International, objects4money, Scents of Earth, Mermade, Apothecary's Garden, arabiandilight, omantonewyork, and Fredsoll.
You can buy frankincense incense on Amazon, Etsy, and eBay.
Popular frankincense incense products on Amazon include those by Bless International, Govinda, Plant Guru, Satya, Sagrada Madre, Simply Vedic, and Aroma Depot.
Popular frankincense incense products on Etsy include those by objects4money, AfroCosmetics, and Fredsoll.
