We have our favorite essential oils here at Plant Therapy and Frankincense is at the top of the list. This workhorse of an essential oil has a number of versatile uses that make it a must-have for your collection. Even though we offer several varieties of Frankincense that each bring unique nuances, they share the same wonderful benefits. No matter which Frankincense you use, you really can’t go wrong. But we also understand that you want to invest in the oil you’ll use the most without buying all four varieties of Frankincense (yes, we said four).
Find more details on the benefits and uses of Frankincense here.
Frankincense Carterii
Frankincense Carterii boasts more of a green, balsamic aroma than the other varieties. It’s also the most popular and readily available variety of Frankincense. It’s wonderful for meditation and yoga practices as it helps provide a grounding and comforting atmosphere. And it’s even a great choice to use during times of grief or mourning. Try combining with other comforting oils like Rose and Sandalwood.
Frankincense Carterii is also wonderful for bumps, bruises, aches, and pains. Try diluting in your favorite carrier oil or lotion so you can apply it whenever you need it. Learn more about the benefits and uses of Frankincense Carterii here.
Frankincense Serrata
Even though all Frankincense is good for relieving aches and swollen joints, Frankincense Serrata is also the best choice for this issue. It can also be used to ease pain caused by menstruation. These pain-relieving benefits make a great choice for your toolkit if you work out a lot, experience aches and pains from everyday wear and tear, or need a little extra relief during that time of the month. Frankincense Serrata’s green, woody, and earthy scent helps promote clear and deep breathing. Try combining it with oils like Eucalyptus Globulus and Fir Needle for a fresh, clearing blend.
Frankincense Frereana
This variety of Frankincense is well-known for its rejuvenating benefits when added to your skincare routine. It can help smooth the appearance of wrinkles, scars, dry and damaged skin. Who doesn’t need a little extra TLC in your skincare routine? Try incorporating this oil into your daily skincare routine by diluting it in one of our amazing carrier oil blends like Younger Glo or Near Perfection. This variety of Frankincense, like the other varieties, can also help to support a healthy immune system.
Fantastic Franks
Get the best of everything Frankincense with this incredible blend. Fantastic Franks combines four different varieties: Carterii, Frereana, Papyrifera, and the highly sought-after and valuable Sacra. It’s one of the most important essential oils for skincare and provides remarkable rejuvenating and healing properties. Great for anything from blemishes and minor skin wounds to aging concerns, just dilute it in a carrier oil and apply it to your face (1-2% dilution) or other areas of your body (3-5% dilution). As a gentle “balancer” for oily skin, Frankincense is thought to help regenerate aging skin, keep wrinkles at bay, and may even smooth out the appearance of some existing ones. And like all varieties of Frankincense, this blend brings a lovely grounding note to your diffuser blends.
Remember, no matter what Frankincense Essential Oil you choose, you’re sure to fall in love. Do you have a favorite variety? Let us know in the comments below!
FAQs
Boswellia carterii is probably the best known and most researched type of Frankincense. Its essential oil is generally produced in arid areas of East Africa such as Somalia. In this environment the trees have evolved to survive the hot, dry conditions.
What's the difference between frankincense carteri and serrata? ›
Boswellia serrata: A key herb in Ayurveda, this is also referred to as Indian frankincense. It's often found in capsule form and is the most common nutrition supplement. Boswellia carteri: This species originates from East Africa and China. Its resin is typically used to make frankincense oil, a popular essential oil.
How can you tell if frankincense is good quality? ›
The resin quality can be determined by its size and color – the larger and lighter the resin, the higher the quality. Although the West most often sees the golden or amber resin, the purest, most expensive resin ranges in color from clear to white or silvery with a hint of light green.
Which frankincense is best for inflammation? ›
Boswellia. Frankincense or Boswellia serrata has been used traditionally as a medication against inflammatory diseases for a long time. Besides α- and β-boswellic acid, it contains other pentacyclic triterpenic acids, which inhibit pro-inflammatory processes via 5-lipoxygenase and cyclo-oxygenase.
What is the king of all frankincense? ›
Boswellia frereana is a species of plant native to northern Somalia where the locals call it "Dhidin" or "Maydi" (other spellings include: Meydi, Meyti, Maidi, Maieti, and Mayeti) or the king of all frankincense.
What to look for when buying frankincense oil? ›
Always make sure to read the label and check that the ingredients are 100% pure and natural with no additives. Additionally, always look for the period after opening symbol on the bottle which shows how long it will last before it needs to be replaced.
Are all frankincense the same? ›
There are numerous species and varieties of frankincense trees, including Boswellia serrata in India, Boswellia carteri in East Africa and China, Boswellia frereana in Somalia, and Boswellia sacra in Arabia, each producing a slightly different type of resin.
Does frankincense oil help arthritis pain? ›
Therefore, it seems that topical use of frankincense extract can improve OA in terms of pain severity and joint flexibility, as well as patients' quality of life (as determined by PGA score).
Is there fake frankincense? ›
It is used in perfumery, aromatherapy, skincare, and traditional Chinese medicine. However, all Boswellia species are under threat owing to habitat loss and overexploitation. As a result, the market is getting flooded with counterfeit frankincense products.
What to avoid when buying essential oils? ›
Purity should be one of your top priorities when shopping for essential oils. Avoid essential oils that contain filler ingredients or synthetic additives. Look for the phrase “100% pure essential oils” to be certain that you're getting the real deal.
The finest and most highly prized frankincense resin is produced by the Boswellia sacra species, which grows in Oman. Oman has a reputation for producing superior-quality frankincense trees that deliver the highest-grade resin, the resin reserved for royalty.
Which frankincense is best for aging skin? ›
Frankincense Frereana
This variety of Frankincense is well-known for its rejuvenating benefits when added to your skincare routine. It can help smooth the appearance of wrinkles, scars, dry and damaged skin.
What is the strongest essential oil for arthritis? ›
Below are six of the best essential oils for RA symptoms, alongside scientific evidence supporting their effectiveness.
- Eucalyptus. Eucalyptus contains several compounds that may help to reduce inflammation, swelling, and pain. ...
- Frankincense. ...
- Lavender. ...
- Ginger. ...
- Turmeric essential oil. ...
- Basil.
Which Essential Oils Are Best For Pain? One of Mother nature's most powerful painkillers, peppermint oil is frequently used for alleviating pain [1]. Closely related to peppermint, wintergreen oil boasts similar properties due to its methyl salicylate component.
Which is better frankincense or sacred frankincense? ›
Sacred Frankincense essential oil contains the same compounds as the other Frankincense oils, but it as 20% more alpha-pinene. This higher makeup of alpha-pinene allows Sacred Frankincense essential oil to offer greater benefits, including: Sharper mental focus and memory.
Are there different grades of frankincense? ›
Context in source publication
Sudan, five grades of frankincense are recognized. The first three grades which are delivered to export market consist of white granules of different size ( Table 2). The fourth grade (Lagawa and Ozala) consists of granules of brown or black color of any size. ...
What is the difference between frankincense and frankincense vitality? ›
Frankincense essential oil and Frankincense Vitality contain the same essential oil. Frankincense essential oil is labeled for topical and aromatic use, and Frankincense Vitality is labeled for dietary use. The designation of the two product allows you to share all the ways to use Frankincense in the correct way.
