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Frankincense Essential Oil (All Types)

Frankincense essential oil is steam-distilled from the aromatic resin of the frankincense tree, Boswellia carterii, a small resin-producing tree in the Burseraceae family native to parts of northeastern Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. It is known for its warm, resinous, softly citrus-wood aroma and has long been associated with contemplative, ceremonial, and perfumed traditions.

Traditionally, frankincense essential oil has been used in meditation blends, evening diffusers, natural perfume, and carefully diluted skincare oils. Its aroma is often chosen when a blend needs a more grounded, steady quality, and it is commonly paired with lavender, sandalwood, bergamot, and other oils used for quiet, centering rituals.

One of frankincense oil’s distinguishing features is the way it bridges categories: it is resinous and woody, yet also lightly lifted and almost lemony in its top notes. This balance makes it especially useful in diffuser formulas where a blend needs depth without becoming too heavy or smoky.

There are many variations of Frankincense Essential Oil including Frankincense Carterii (Boswellia carterii), Frankincense Serrata (Boswellia serrata), Frankincense Frereana (Boswellia frereana), Frankincense Sacra (Boswellia sacra) these pages provide more detailed profiles on the different types.

Oil	Botanical Name	Part Used	Aroma Profile	Best For
Frankincense Carterii	Boswellia carterii	Resin	Fresh, slightly sweet, balsamic with citrus undertones	Skincare, emotional balance, general wellness
Frankincense Serrata	Boswellia serrata	Resin	Warm, resinous, slightly spicy and earthy	Muscle and joint support, grounding, traditional use
Frankincense Frereana	Boswellia frereana	Resin	Soft, light, slightly fruity and balsamic	Relaxation, skin care, gentle aromatic use
Frankincense Sacra	Boswellia sacra	Resin	Deep, rich, resinous with subtle sweet and woody notes	Meditation, respiratory support, grounding

Benefits and Uses of Frankincense Essential Oil

Common Uses

Aromatherapy: Frankincense essential oil is often diffused to create a quiet, grounding, resinous atmosphere for evening routines, reflection, meditation, or slow breathing practices.
Meditation and rituals: Traditionally used in contemplative spaces, prayer, breathwork, journaling, and personal rituals where a calm and settled mood is desired.
Natural perfumery: Used as a warm resinous middle-to-base note that adds depth, softness, and staying power to botanical fragrance blends.
Skincare: Added well diluted to facial oils, balms, creams, and body serums where a refined, warm, resinous aroma is wanted.
Massage oil: Blended into carrier oils for grounding massage blends, especially where a calm, comforting aromatic profile is preferred.
Room blends: Used in diffuser blends or room sprays to create a peaceful, warm, and softly resinous home fragrance.

Benefits

Creates a grounding atmosphere: Frankincense has a warm, resinous aroma often associated with calm, stillness, and emotional balance.
Supports relaxation rituals: It is commonly used in aromatherapy blends designed for quiet evenings, meditation, breathwork, and reflective routines.
Adds depth to skincare blends: Frankincense is valued in facial oils and balms for its elegant aroma and its traditional association with mature skin and restorative body care rituals.
Helps soften busy blends: Its smooth resinous scent can make sharper citrus, herbal, or floral oils feel more rounded and complete.
Useful in natural perfumery: Frankincense helps anchor lighter top notes and gives perfume blends a warm, sacred, resinous character.

Frankincense essential oil is commonly used in aromatherapy, natural perfumery, skincare, massage oils, and meditation blends. However, many of its reported benefits come from traditional use, personal experience, and aromatherapy practice rather than strong clinical evidence.

Blending Uses

Blends well with citrus oils such as bergamot, sweet orange, lemon, grapefruit, and mandarin.
Pairs beautifully with floral oils such as lavender, rose, geranium, ylang ylang, and neroli.
Works well with woody and resinous oils such as cedarwood, sandalwood, myrrh, patchouli, copaiba, and pine.
Can add warmth and depth to meditation blends, evening diffuser blends, natural perfumes, facial oils, and body care formulas.
Useful for softening sharper herbal oils such as rosemary, basil, clary sage, and black pepper.

Ready to try Frankincense in recipes and DIY projects?
Explore aromatherapy blends, skincare ideas, bath products, diffuser recipes, and natural remedies featuring Frankincense Essential Oil.

Read our How to Use Frankincense Essential Oil Guide →

Aromatic Profile

Frankincense essential oil has a resinous, softly woody aroma with citrus-like brightness and a smooth meditative depth.

Scent family: Resinous, woody, and balsamic
Fragrance notes: Warm, dry, slightly citrusy, and grounding with a smooth sacred-resin character
Similar to: Sandalwood, elemi, and myrrh, though frankincense is often lighter and more lifted than deeper resin oils

“Frankincense has long been esteemed for the dignity of its fragrance and the stillness it brings to perfumed spaces.”

— Adapted from historical incense and perfumery references

Frankincense Essential Oil (All Types) Preparation Methods

Frankincense Essential Oil can be prepared in several ways:

Topical Application

Dilute frankincense essential oil in a carrier oil such as jojoba, argan, or sweet almond oil before applying to the skin. Around 1–2% is a common range for body use, while facial oils often use a lower dilution for a more refined application.

Remedies: Coming soon facial oil and grounding body serum recipes with frankincense essential oil.

Diffuser

Frankincense essential oil can be diffused on its own or blended with lavender, bergamot, or sandalwood for a calm, resinous atmosphere. Add about 3–5 drops to a diffuser filled with water and diffuse during quiet evening routines.

Remedies: Coming soon diffuser blends with frankincense essential oil.

Bath

For a grounding bath routine, first mix frankincense essential oil into a carrier oil or proper dispersant before adding it to warm water. This helps disperse the oil more evenly and avoids direct contact with undiluted droplets.

Remedies: Calming bath recipes with frankincense essential oil coming soon.

Natural Perfume

Frankincense essential oil can be added in small amounts to roll-on perfumes and botanical scent blends, where it lends warmth and depth to citrus, floral, or woody notes.

Remedies: Coming soon perfume recipes with frankincense essential oil.

Safety Considerations

Frankincense essential oil is generally regarded as one of the milder resinous oils in aromatherapy, but it is still concentrated and should be diluted before routine skin use.

However, even gentler oils may cause irritation for some individuals, especially when used repeatedly on the skin or around sensitive pets and children.

Skin dilution: Always dilute before applying to the skin; around 1–2% is often suitable for general body use.
Patch testing: Patch test before first use, especially for facial applications or sensitive skin.
Avoid sensitive areas: Avoid contact with eyes, inner ears, and mucous membranes.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding: Use caution during pregnancy or breastfeeding and consult a qualified healthcare professional before therapeutic use.
Storage and safety: Keep out of reach of children and store tightly closed away from heat and light.
Pets: If diffusing around pets, use moderate amounts, provide good ventilation, and allow animals to leave the space freely.

Please use this information for educational purposes only and consult a qualified healthcare professional for individual guidance.

Image Disclaimer: Images are for reference only and should not be used as the sole method of identification. Always confirm identification with a qualified source.

FAQ Frankincense Essential Oil

What is frankincense essential oil used for?

Frankincense essential oil is commonly used in meditation blends, evening diffusers, natural perfumes, and diluted skincare oils. It is especially valued for its warm, grounding, resinous aroma.

What does frankincense essential oil smell like?

Frankincense essential oil smells resinous, softly woody, warm, and slightly citrusy. Compared with sandalwood, it is usually a little drier and more lifted in its top notes.

Can frankincense essential oil be used on the face?

Frankincense essential oil is often added to facial oils and serums, but it should still be diluted properly. Many people prefer a low dilution in facial blends because the skin on the face can be more delicate.

What oils blend well with frankincense?

Frankincense blends well with lavender, bergamot, lemon, sandalwood, and roman chamomile. These pairings can make it feel softer, brighter, or more deeply grounding depending on the combination.

Why is frankincense essential oil popular in meditation blends?

Frankincense essential oil is popular in meditation blends because its aroma feels calm, resinous, and steady without being overpowering. It adds depth to a room and pairs well with both citrus and woody oils.

Is frankincense essential oil safe around pets?

Frankincense essential oil is generally used more gently than some stronger oils, but care is still important around pets. If diffusing, use moderate amounts, keep the space ventilated, and let pets leave the room freely.

Essential Oil Overview

Botanical name: Boswellia carterii
Plant part used: Resin
Extraction method: Steam distillation
Aroma profile: Warm, resinous, and slightly woody with soft citrus-spice nuances and a deep meditative aroma
Aroma note: Base note
Key components: Alpha-Pinene, Limonene, Incensole, Sabinene
Top benefits:
- Promotes grounding and quiet focus in meditation blends
- Adds depth and warmth to skincare and perfume formulas
- Supports a calm atmosphere in evening diffuser routines
- Blends beautifully into mature-skin body oils and serums

Types Available

Frankincense Carterii (Boswellia carterii)
Frankincense Serrata (Boswellia serrata)
Frankincense Frereana (Boswellia frereana)
Frankincense Sacra (Boswellia sacra)
Frankincense Papyrifera (Boswellia papyrifera)

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