Frankincense Oil: History, Species, Research and Safe Use

Frankincense oil carries more history than almost any other scent on the shelf, and more marketing claims too. This article covers where the oil comes from and how traditions have used it. It also covers what research actually shows and how to use it safely. You will also learn why the tree behind it is in trouble, and how to buy more responsibly.

What is frankincense oil?

Frankincense is the dried resin of trees in the genus Boswellia, part of the Burseraceae family. Harvesters make shallow cuts in the bark. The tree bleeds a milky sap that hardens into pale, translucent “tears” over a few weeks.

Frankincense essential oil is made by distilling those tears with steam or water. The process captures the light, volatile molecules that carry the scent. It leaves the heavy, non-volatile parts of the resin behind. That detail matters a great deal for the health claims you will see online, as later sections explain.

The name has two roots worth knowing. “Frankincense” comes from Old French franc encens, meaning pure or high-quality incense. “Olibanum,” its other common name, is usually traced to the Arabic al-lubān, which refers to the milky sap.

The main Boswellia species behind the oil

“Frankincense oil” is not one product. Several species are sold under the same name, and their oils smell and behave differently. A good label names the species and the country of origin.

Scent descriptions are general and vary by batch and distillation. Conservation status from the IUCN Red List and Bongers et al. (2019).

Chemically, frankincense oils are dominated by monoterpenes, small molecules such as alpha-pinene and limonene. The exact mix shifts by species. Papyrifera oils, for example, are often rich in an ester called octyl acetate. These differences explain why two bottles labeled “frankincense” can smell quite unlike each other.

A short history of frankincense

Few natural products have shaped trade and religion like frankincense. For many centuries it was among the most valuable luxury goods in the Old World. Caravans and ships carried it from southern Arabia and the Horn of Africa to Egypt, the Mediterranean, India and beyond.

UNESCO recognized this history in 2000 when it listed the “Land of Frankincense” in Oman as a World Heritage site. The listing covers four places. Wadi Dawkah, where Boswellia sacra trees still grow and are still tapped. Shisr, an inland caravan oasis. And two fortified ports, Khor Rori and Al-Baleed, which shipped resin across the Indian Ocean.

Traditional and spiritual uses of frankincense oil

This section describes what traditions teach. These are beliefs and cultural practices, not proven effects.

In Ayurveda

Indian frankincense, Boswellia serrata, is known in Sanskrit as shallaki. In Ayurvedic tradition, the resin is used mainly in oral and topical preparations for joints and inflammation. Ayurvedic texts describe it as balancing the doshas, the three bodily principles of that system. Note that this tradition uses the whole resin, not the distilled essential oil.

In religious ritual

Burning frankincense resin has marked sacred space for thousands of years. It appears in Jewish temple incense in the Hebrew Bible, in Christian liturgy, and in ceremonies across the Arabian Peninsula. In Oman and Yemen, burning resin at home is still an everyday act of hospitality.

In modern meditation and energy practices

Many modern aromatherapy and meditation practitioners use frankincense to mark the start of a quiet practice. In chakra-based systems, it is often linked to the crown chakra and described as “grounding” or “elevating.” These ideas are spiritual beliefs. There is no scientific evidence for chakras, auras or energy fields. If you enjoy the scent during yoga or meditation, that ritual value is real on its own terms.

Frankincense oil benefits: what the research actually shows

This is where online claims and evidence part ways. To read the research correctly, you need to separate three different products.

The boswellic acid myth

Many sites claim frankincense oil works because it contains boswellic acids. Robert Tisserand of the Tisserand Institute examined that claim in 2022. Boswellic acids are large, heavy molecules with boiling points of roughly 500 to 600°C. Normal distillation does not carry them into the oil.

Tisserand found no reliable report of meaningful boswellic acid levels in normally distilled oil. Studies reporting higher levels used unusual methods, such as vacuum distillation or very long runs. Boswellia extracts, by contrast, can contain up to about 60% boswellic acids. They are simply a different product.

So research on Boswellia supplements does not apply to the essential oil. This one fact removes much of the confusion online.

What research shows for Boswellia extracts

Memorial Sloan Kettering’s About Herbs database summarizes the clinical picture for oral Boswellia serrata:

None of these uses is approved in the US. MSK notes Boswellia may raise bleeding risk with blood thinners such as warfarin. If you live with arthritis, asthma or bowel disease, talk to your doctor before trying any supplement. The NHS guide to osteoarthritis covers treatments with stronger evidence.

What research shows for the essential oil

Evidence for frankincense oil itself is thin. MSK notes lab studies showing antimicrobial activity and effects on tumor cells in dishes. Lab results like these often fail to translate to people. They are not evidence that the oil treats any infection or cancer.

Human studies are small. In 2008, a Korean study gave 58 hospice patients with terminal cancer daily hand massages. One group’s oil contained a 1.5% blend of bergamot, lavender and frankincense. The aroma group reported greater improvements in pain and depression than the plain-oil group.

That study has clear limits. Groups were not randomly assigned, and three oils were blended. Its results cannot be pinned on frankincense alone.

Aromatherapy as a whole has mixed evidence. NCCIH says little rigorous research exists on aromatherapy for sleep. The National Cancer Institute’s review describes mixed results for anxiety in cancer patients. One large trial found no anxiety benefit from inhaled oils during radiation therapy. A 2011 systematic review of 16 trials found mostly positive anxiety results, but called for better-designed studies.

How to use frankincense oil safely

The National Cancer Institute describes aromatherapy as having a relatively low toxicity profile when inhaled or applied diluted. Most problems come from using oils undiluted, swallowing them or using old, oxidized oil.

Inhalation and diffusing

• Diffuse for short periods, such as 30 to 60 minutes, then air the room.
• Keep the room ventilated and the door open for pets to leave.
• A drop on a tissue or cotton pad is a simple, low-exposure option.
• Stop if anyone gets a headache, cough or wheeze. People with asthma should check with their doctor first.

Dilution for skin

Always dilute frankincense oil in a carrier such as jojoba, sweet almond or fractionated coconut oil. The ranges below are general guidance widely used in aromatherapy. They are in line with the dilution charts in Tisserand and Young’s Essential Oil Safety. They apply to everyday cosmetic use, not to treating any condition.

Drop counts assume about 20 drops per ml. Droppers vary, so treat these as approximate.

Patch test before regular use

1. Dilute one drop in a teaspoon of carrier oil.
2. Apply a small amount to the inner forearm.
3. Cover and leave for 24 to 48 hours.
4. Do not use the oil if you see redness, itching or swelling.

Frankincense oil side effects and cautions

Skin reactions and oxidation

MSK lists allergic skin reactions as the main side effect, including case reports of contact dermatitis from frankincense oil. Older safety testing found olibanum non-sensitizing at modest concentrations. Risk rises as the oil ages, however.

Frankincense is rich in monoterpenes like alpha-pinene and limonene. When these react with air, they form oxidation products that are known skin allergens. Store the oil tightly capped, cool and away from light. Use it within about one to two years of opening. Discard any bottle that smells sharp, sour or “off.”

Never swallow essential oils

The NCI notes that essential oils are generally not taken by mouth in the US and UK. Concentrated oils can irritate the mouth and gut and are dangerous for children. MSK also reports a teenager who needed surgery for a stomach blockage after taking excessive frankincense. If someone swallows an essential oil, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 in the US.

Pregnancy, breastfeeding and children

• Pregnancy and breastfeeding: there is little safety research. Ask your doctor or midwife before using any essential oil on skin.
• Babies and young children: use much lower dilutions than for adults, and avoid oils on infants without professional advice. The Tisserand Institute publishes age-specific dilution charts.
• Storage: keep bottles out of reach. Child-resistant caps and built-in dropper inserts help.

Medications and health conditions

Topical and inhaled frankincense oil is not known to cause major drug interactions. Oral Boswellia supplements are different. MSK warns they may increase bleeding risk with anticoagulant and antiplatelet drugs. Tell your doctor and pharmacist about any supplement you take.

Pets

The ASPCA warns that concentrated essential oils can harm dogs and cats. Never apply oils to a pet’s skin or fur. Cats are especially sensitive because they groom oil off their coats. Avoid diffusers entirely around birds, which have very sensitive airways. Rabbits and other small pets face similar risks.

For dogs and cats, the ASPCA says short diffuser use in a room pets cannot enter is unlikely to cause problems. Avoid diffusing around pets with breathing problems. Signs of exposure include unsteadiness, drooling, vomiting and low energy. Call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.

Is frankincense sustainable? The tree behind the oil

This is the part of the frankincense story most product pages leave out. In 2019, Frans Bongers and colleagues published a major study in Nature Sustainability on Boswellia papyrifera. That species is the main source of traded frankincense today.

The team surveyed 23 sites across Ethiopia, Eritrea and Sudan. At 18 sites, very few young trees were growing. At some sites, no new trees had established for 25 to 50 years. The authors projected that frankincense production could halve within 20 years.

Other species face pressure too. Boswellia sacra is listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List, though that assessment dates from 1998. A 2021 report from Oman to the CITES Plants Committee noted overharvesting, poor regeneration and camel grazing. In 2025, the IUCN assessed seven Boswellia species on Yemen’s Socotra Island as Vulnerable to Critically Endangered.

How to buy frankincense more responsibly

• Look for the species and country on the label. Vague “frankincense oil” with no Latin name is a warning sign.
• Ask how the resin was sourced. Suppliers who work with harvester communities and follow tapping guidelines can usually explain it.
• Prefer suppliers who share batch testing, such as gas chromatography reports. This also helps you spot adulterated oil.
• Use less. A small bottle used thoughtfully lasts a long time, and fresher oil is safer for skin.
• Be wary of very cheap oil. Low prices can mean adulteration or unsustainable harvesting.

Palo santo faces some similar sourcing questions. Our palo santo oil guide covers them.

Frankincense compared with similar calming oils

For a full profile of the most researched calming oil, see our lavender oil guide. You can browse every oil we cover in Oils and Scents.

Common mistakes with frankincense oil

1. Believing it contains boswellic acids. Distilled oil contains little or none. Supplement research does not apply to it.
2. Applying it neat. “Gentle” oils still need dilution, especially on the face.
3. Putting drops in water or tea. Oil does not dissolve in water, and essential oils should not be swallowed.
4. Keeping an old bottle for years. Oxidized oil is more likely to cause skin allergy.
5. Diffusing all day around pets. Short sessions, open doors and no diffusers near birds.
6. Using it instead of medical care. No oil replaces treatment for an infection, cancer or any diagnosed condition.
7. Buying without a species name. You cannot judge quality, scent or sustainability without it.

Your one step before your next bottle

Check the label of the frankincense oil you own, or plan to buy. Find the Latin species name, the country of origin and the date you opened it. If any of the three is missing, write it on the bottle or ask the supplier. Those three facts tell you how fresh it is, what you are smelling and where it came from.

Sources

1. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. About Herbs: Boswellia (updated September 2026). mskcc.org/cancer-care/integrative-medicine/herbs/boswellia
2. National Cancer Institute. Aromatherapy and Essential Oils (PDQ), Health Professional Version (updated October 2024). cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/cam/hp/aromatherapy-pdq
3. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Aromatherapy (January 2020). nccih.nih.gov/health/aromatherapy
4. LiverTox, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Boswellia Serrata (updated November 2020). ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK563692
5. Tisserand R. Does Frankincense oil contain boswellic acid? Tisserand Institute, December 2022. tisserandinstitute.org/frankincense-boswellic-acid
6. Tisserand Institute. Recommended dilutions for children. tisserandinstitute.org/learn-more/recommended-dilutions-for-children
7. Tisserand R, Young R. Essential Oil Safety: A Guide for Health Care Professionals. 2nd edition. Churchill Livingstone, 2014.
8. Bongers F, Groenendijk P, Bekele T, et al. Frankincense in peril. Nature Sustainability, 2019. Summary: Wageningen University & Research
9. Sultanate of Oman. Response to the Questionnaire on Boswellia Trees. CITES Plants Committee, PC25 Inf. 18, 2021. cites.org
10. Botanic Gardens Conservation International. First IUCN Red List update of 2025 (Socotra Boswellia species). bgci.org
11. UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Land of Frankincense (inscribed 2000). whc.unesco.org/en/list/1010
12. ASPCA. The latest home trend that’s harmful to your pets: what you need to know (essential oils and diffusers). aspca.org
13. Chang SY. Effects of aroma hand massage on pain, state anxiety and depression in hospice patients with terminal cancer. Taehan Kanho Hakhoe Chi, 2008; 38(4): 493–502.
14. Lee YL, Wu Y, Tsang HWH, Leung AY, Cheung WM. A systematic review on the anxiolytic effects of aromatherapy in people with anxiety symptoms. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2011; 17(2): 101–108. research.polyu.edu.hk
15. Botanical Dermatology Database. Burseraceae (Boswellia / olibanum). botanical-dermatology-database.info
16. NHS. Osteoarthritis. nhs.uk/conditions/osteoarthritis