Known for its calming and gentle essence, Frankincense Essential Oil is a popular essential oil for a variety of aromatherapy uses.
Not just limited to aromatherapy, Frankincense Essential Oil is believed to also offer a natural remedy for stress, pain and immunity.
Let's look at the benefits of this so called ‘miracle oil’ and how to incorporate it into your routine.
Firstly, What Is Frankincense Oil?
Frankincense Essential Oil, also known as olibanum or Boswellia carterii, is an oil made from the sap of the Frankincense tree. Once the sap droplets dry and become firm, they use steam distillation extraction to make Frankincense Essential Oil.
With an overall warm, earthy and slightly woody aroma, Frankincense Oil is comprised of spicy yet fruity undertones, making it a calming and comforting essential oil with a variety of benefits.
5 Benefits Of Frankincense Essential Oil
The chemical profile of Frankincense Essential Oil is comprised of Limonene, Pinene, Borneol, Phellandrene and Myrcene, amongst other compounds. This unique chemical makeup makes Frankincense Essential Oil beneficial for all aspects of the mind and body. These include:
1. Known To Relieve Stress
Inhaling the sweet, woody aroma of Frankincense Oil is believed to have a stress reliving effect, reducing the heart rate and helping you unwind. That’s why it is often regarded as one of the best essential oils for meditation.
A 2019 study found that the compounds of Frankincense Oil, incensole and incensole acetate, may help alleviate feelings of anxiety and depression by activating ion channels in the brain.
2. It May Improve Asthma
The anti-inflammatory properties of Frankincense Oil are known to help strengthen the immune system whilst easing respiratory related illnesses, congestion and asthma. This is a practice that has been utilised throughout traditional medicine for centuries.
One study suggests that the compounds of Frankincense Oil, ‘boswellic acids’, have the ability to inhibit lipoxygenases, proteases and nuclear factor KB - enzymes that play a role in the inflammatory process.
3. Has Been Seen To Relieve Arthritis
The anti-inflammatory properties of Frankincense Oil are known to help relieve the joint pain caused by arthritis.
While small, one 2015 study found that Boswellia extracts were seen to help with pain relief and improvements in function in those suffering osteoarthritis.
4. Believed To Work Wonders For Your Skin
Frankincense Oil is a highly regarded ingredient in skincare, so much so it is often dubbed ‘liquid gold for the face’. This is because Frankincense Oil is a powerful astringent, meaning it is believed to help protect the skin cells, reduce acne scarring and mask the appearance of large pores.
What’s more, this powerhouse oil is known to be beneficial for those with aging skin, believed to tighten and strengthen the skin while boosting its overall tone and elasticity.
Known To Help Relieve Acne
Frankincense Oil naturally carries antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, making it a common ingredient in many formulas designed to treat acne.
5. May Help Improve Digestive Function
Frankincense’s anti-inflammatory properties are believed to help with digestive function, aiding the process of digesting food.
One 2017 study found that Frankincense Oil, in combination with other herbal medicines, was effective in eliminating symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and its related anxiety and depression.
Popular Ways To Use Frankincense Essential Oil
To enjoy the many benefits of Frankincense Oil, we recommend either topical application or inhalation via a diffuser.
Topical Application
To help treat skin concerns and enjoy the calming properties of Frankincense Oil, dilute it into a carrier oil and apply to the skin using one of the following methods:
- Simply dilute Frankincense Essential Oil into your preferred carrier oil of your choice, such as Jojoba or Coconut oil, at a 2-4% dilution and apply to the skin.
- For facial application, we recommend the same method but at a 1% dilution.
Diffuser
For those wanting to experience the aromatic benefits of Frankincense Essential Oil, add a few drops to your aromatherapy diffuser or car diffuser. To do so:
- Add some water to the diffuser basin
- Add roughly 5 drops of Frankincense Oil
- Plug in and start your diffuser to enjoy Frankincense’s earthy, sweet aroma.
3 Ways To Use Frankincense Essential Oil
Now you know the many benefits Frankincense Oil is believed to bring to your mind and body, you might be wondering how to incorporate it into your daily routine.
Some of the most popular ways to enjoy Frankincense Oil include:
Diffuse When Studying Or Meditating
Frankincense Oil is known for its ability to focus the mind. So, next time you’re studying, working, meditating or practicing yoga, add some Frankincense Oil to your diffuser to enjoy its benefits.
Add A Few Drops To A Warm Bath
To enjoy Frankincense Essential Oil’s calming and relaxing properties, simply add a few drops of the oil into a warm bath.
Combine With A Carrier Oil To Create Your Own Wrinkle Fighting Cream
Mix Frankincense Essential Oil with your carrier oil of choice at a 1-4% dilution and apply directly to areas of the skin prone to ageing – such as the neck and face. You can even add a few drops to your eye cream of choice.
What Does It Blend Well With?
Because of its well-balanced spicy aroma, Frankincense Essential Oil blends well with a variety of essential oils. Some of our favourite diffuser blends include:
- To create an uplifting and energising blend that will clear the mind, combine Frankincense Oil with Basil, Mandarin, Peppermint or Ylang Ylang essential oils.
- To ease stress and soothe the mind, mix Frankincense Oil with Lavendar, Sweet Orange, Lime and Bergamot essential oils.
Lavender Essential Oil
WHen combined, Lavender and Frankincense Oil create a calming scent to help relieve feelings of stress.
Bergamot Essential Oil
Bergamot Oil's citrus, sweet aroma blends well with Frankincense Oil's spicy, fruity scent.
Essential Oil Sleep Pack
With Lavender, Bergamot and Frankincense Oil, our Essential Oil Sleep Pack promotes a restful sleep.
How Do You Know If You Have Quality Frankincense Oil?
The quality and purity of Frankincense Essential Oil is highly dependent on where it is purchased.
So, to ensure you’re purchasing quality Frankincense Oil, you’ll want to keep your eye out for certain things on the bottle.
Top 6 Things To Look For
- The oils Latin name, in this case Boswellia carterii, listed on the bottle. If a product doesn’t have the Latin name listed, it’s probably a mix of synthetic fragrance oils.
- The oil is packaged in a dark glass bottle. This will prevent light and heat from damaging the oil.
- The label clearly states ‘100% pure Frankincense Essential Oil’. This will ensure the product isn’t blended with any other oils.
- Be sure to check the expiry date if buying in store
- The product clearly states where the oil is from.
- Be wary of a very low price. It could be an indicator of low quality or adulterated essential oils.
At AWO, our Frankincense Essential Oil is ethically sourced from Somalia and isn’t diluted with any other ingredients. This means you’re getting exactly what you pay for, 100% pure Frankincense Essential Oil naturally extracted via steam distillation.
Safety, Side Effects and Considerations
Frankincense Essential Oil is typically a well-tolerated oil for most groups. However, as it is an essential oil, typical considerations for use still apply.
AWO’s Frankincense Essential Oil is 100% pure and therefore very concentrated, that’s why we always recommend diluting before using topically. Because they are so potent, essential oils can cause serious harm if ingested without the necessary expertise.
For this reason, it is not recommended to ingest essential oils. We also recommend storing your Frankincense Essential Oil in a cool, dry place at room temperature, ensuring that they are not directly exposed to sunlight and are out of reach of children or pets.
What Customers Are Saying About Frankincense Essential Oil
“I have found the product to be of a high quality and reasonably priced and will continue to buy your products”
Trevor (Verified Customer)
“The aroma that Frankincense emits gives me feelings of satisfaction, peace and relaxation.”
Hussein (Verified Customer)
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any illness.