Katrina Rosales
Incense is a sacred material that has been used for millennia, often as an offering to gods and spirits. The best-known incense materials in the West are frankincense and myrrh, which are mentioned in the Bible. Frankincense, or pure incense, is specifically the resin of the Boswellia tree, which grows in arid regions. Other incense materials include aromatic woods that contain resins or essential oils, such as pine, hickory, cedar, and sassafras. Incense can be burned directly on coal embers or in the form of incense sticks, coils, or paste.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Western incense materials | Frankincense, myrrh |
| Frankincense trees | Trees of the genus Boswellia in the family Burseraceae |
| Boswellia species | Boswellia sacra, Boswellia frereana, Boswellia serrata, Boswellia thurifera, Boswellia papyrifera, Boswellia occulta |
| Boswellia growth regions | Arid regions, Horn of Africa, Somalia–Ethiopia border, Northern Somalia, South Arabia |
| Frankincense harvesting | Tapping done 2-3 times a year, higher-quality resin produced by older trees |
| Frankincense composition | Acid resin, boswellic acids, aromatic terpene, sesquiterpene, diterpene |
| Frankincense use | Perfumes, cleansing, incense sticks, coils, direct-burning incense, indirect-burning incense |
| Other incense resins | Pine, hickory, cedar, sassafras, birch, laurel, fir, spruce, juniper |
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What You'll Learn
Frankincense, or olibanum, is a resin from the Boswellia tree
The Boswellia tree starts producing resin when it is about eight to ten years old. Tapping is done two to three times per year, with the final taps producing the best tears of resin due to their higher aromatic terpene, sesquiterpene, and diterpene content. Generally, the more opaque resins are considered to be of higher quality. Frankincense resin is hand-sorted for quality and is available in various grades, depending on the time of harvesting.
There are several species of Boswellia that produce true frankincense, including Boswellia sacra (syn. B. bhaw-dajiana, syn. B. carteri), B. frereana, B. serrata (B. thurifera), and B. papyrifera. Most Boswellia trees grow in arid regions, and the harvesting and selling of their resin is often one of the few sources of income for local inhabitants. Today, 90% of the world's frankincense production comes from the Horn of Africa, particularly the border communities on the Somalia-Ethiopia border.
Frankincense has been used for a variety of purposes throughout history. In ancient times, the Egyptians used it in the mummification process, and it was also burned as incense in religious ceremonies. In Persian medicine, it is used to treat diabetes, gastritis, and stomach ulcers. The oil is also used in Abrahamic religions to cleanse a house or building of negative energy, and it is often used in exorcisms and blessings.
Unfortunately, frankincense tree populations are declining due to overexploitation, burning, grazing, and attacks by the longhorn beetle. The conversion of frankincense woodlands to agricultural land is also a major threat to these trees.
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Pine, hickory, cedar, and sassafras trees contain resins or oils
Pine trees, specifically pitch pines, are known to produce a good amount of incense. White pines, on the other hand, produce tiny dribbles of resin, requiring a specific tool for harvesting. Hickory trees are also a source of aromatic resins or oils used in incense making.
Cedar, another aromatic tree, is used as incense in the form of wood chips or oil. There is even a genus of cedar called incense cedar, native to California. Cedar branches or trees that have died naturally are often used so that the resins concentrate in the heartwood.
Sassafras trees, like the aforementioned trees, contain aromatic resins or oils suitable for incense production. These natural resins or oils are sought after by those who prefer \"natural\" incense, known for their lasting effect.
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Incense cedar is a genus of cedar native to California
Incense cedar, or Calocedrus decurrens, is a species of conifer native to western North America, with the bulk of its range in the United States, from central western Oregon through most of California and the extreme west of Nevada, and a short distance into northwest Mexico in northern Baja California. It is the most widely known cedar species and is often simply referred to as Incense Cedar.
The incense cedar is a large tree, with a trunk diameter of up to 10 feet and a broad conic crown of spreading branches. The bark is orange-brown, weathering to grayish, and is smooth at first, becoming fissured and peeling in long strips on the lower trunk of older trees. The foliage is produced in flattened sprays with short, scale-like leaves that are bright green on both sides of the shoots. The tree is easy to grow in a garden but requires plenty of room. It is highly adaptable to varying conditions and locations, which has given it a competitive advantage over other species in recent years.
The wood of the incense cedar is soft, light, and has a pleasant odour. It is resistant to rot and has been used for a variety of purposes, including external house siding, interior panelling, and moth-resistant hope chests. It was once the primary material for wooden pencils due to its softness and ability to sharpen easily without forming splinters.
Indigenous peoples of California have also traditionally used the incense cedar for medicine, basket-making, hunting bows, and building materials. The Maidu Concow tribe name for the plant is hö'-tä in the Konkow language.
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Norway Spruce produces a good amount of incense
Incense is a sacred material that has been used for millennia. In the West, the most well-known incense materials are the resins frankincense and myrrh, which are mentioned in the Bible. Frankincense, or "pure incense", is specifically the resin of the Boswellia tree, which grows in harsh, arid regions.
Norway Spruce is another tree that produces a good amount of incense. Spruce trees, along with pine, hickory, cedar, and sassafras, contain aromatic resins or essential oils that are ideal for use as incense. The best way to use these as incense is to burn the needles or wood chips on charcoal or in an electric heater. The chips can also be placed in a pot of simmering water on the stove, allowing the heat and steam to diffuse the scent.
Norway Spruce is not the only tree that can be used for incense. In fact, there are a variety of trees that can be used, including the false tinder polypore (Fomitipsis betulina), birch, laurel, and other needle-bearing trees like fir. The Druid Garden blog mentions that sweet gum has been an important medicine in First Nations and Chinese medicine but is little talked about in Western herbalism.
Incense can be made in a variety of ways, including incense sticks, coils, and powders. Incense sticks, also known as agarbatti or joss sticks, are the main form of incense in India. The basic ingredients are a bamboo stick, a paste, and perfume ingredients or a masala (spice mix) powder. Direct-burning incense, also called combustible incense, is lit directly by a flame and will continue to burn without further heat or flame. This type of incense can be extruded, pressed, or coated onto a supporting material. Indirect-burning incense, also called non-combustible incense, does not contain combustible material and requires a separate heat source.
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Boswellia trees grow in arid regions beset by poverty and conflict
Frankincense, also known as olibanum, is an aromatic resin used in incense and perfumes. It is obtained from trees of the genus Boswellia in the family Burseraceae. Boswellia trees grow in arid regions beset by poverty and conflict.
The word frankincense is derived from the Old French expression "franc encens", which means "true incense" or "high-quality incense". The English word is derived from the tribal name of the Franks, but it is not a direct reference to them. 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.
There are several species of Boswellia that produce true frankincense, including Boswellia sacra (syn. B. bhaw-dajiana, syn. B. carteri), B. frereana, B. serrata (B. thurifera), and B. papyrifera. Boswellia frereana grows in northern Somalia, while Boswellia sacra grows in Somalia and South Arabia. Today, 90% of the world's frankincense production comes from the Horn of Africa, particularly the border communities on the Somalia-Ethiopia border.
The trees start producing resin when they are about eight to ten years old. Tapping is done two to three times per year, with the final taps producing the best tears due to their higher aromatic terpene, sesquiterpene, and diterpene content. The more opaque resins are generally of better quality.
Harvesting and selling the tree's resin is one of the few sources of income for the inhabitants of these regions, resulting in overtapping. Recent studies indicate that frankincense tree populations are declining due to overexploitation, burning, grazing, and attacks by the longhorn beetle.
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Frequently asked questions
Western incense is typically made from the resin of trees of the genus Boswellia in the family Burseraceae. The most commonly known types of incense made from these resins are frankincense and myrrh.
Other trees used to make Western incense include pine, hickory, cedar, sassafras, birch, laurel, fir, and spruce.
Incense trees start producing resin when they are about eight to ten years old. Tapping is done two to three times per year, with the final taps producing the highest-quality resin due to their higher aromatic terpene, sesquiterpene, and diterpene content.
Boswellia trees grow in arid regions, predominantly in the Horn of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula.
