The Gem of the Healing Kingdom: Frankincense Oil
Valerie Burke, MSNMaster of Science in Nursing; Geologist; Founder of Shungite Queen
Frankincense has been used traditionally for thousands of years. Unlike frankincense essential oil, frankincense resin oils, whether whole-resin-infused or made from a boswellic acid extract, contain boswellic acids, the compounds researchers have studied for their anti-inflammatory effects.
Updated October 26, 2026
For thousands of years, frankincense oil and resin has been revered for its spiritual, medicinal, and aromatic qualities. Used in religious ceremonies, traditional healing practices and skincare regimens, this precious plant material has withstood the test of time.
While you might already be familiar with frankincense essential oil, we are not talking about that. Frankincense whole-resin oil is something vastly different: it contains boswellic acids, which essential oil does not.
What is Frankincense Resin?
Frankincense is a resin that comes from trees of the genus Boswellia, which is in the family Burseraceae. These ancient trees grow in a belt ranging from the West coast of Africa, east through its horn into southern Arabia, up through India and into Pakistan.
At last count, there were about 20 types of Boswellia trees, but only 8 or 9 produce a usable resin.
When injured, trees secret resin to prevent infection and protect themselves from further damage. The substance rapidly seals over their wounds – effectively forming a "scab” that prevents entry by insect and fungal invaders. Resin’s strong antimicrobial components as well as its stickiness make it a robust deterrent. Resin is therefore critical to a tree’s health – the healthier the resin, the healthier the tree.
Resin is a vital part of a tree’s immune system, so is it any wonder that it would contain chemicals valuable to our own immune health?
In this article, we will review the latest in scientific evidence of the healing benefits of frankincense, along with some of its rich history.
But first, there is an important distinction you must understand – the difference between essential oils and whole-resin oils.
Understanding this difference is critical because it is TRULY night and day. If you want the boswellic acids, you have to make sure you are using the right thing.
Frankincense Resin Oil vs Frankincense Essential Oil (EO)
Essential oils (EOs) have taken the world by storm over the past 10 to 20 years. I understand why – I love them myself!
It’s important to understand that EOs represent only the most volatile compounds of a plant and therefore only possess a small portion of the plant’s naturally occurring compounds, the aromatic ones.
With some plants, such as frankincense, the best are left behind in the essential oil extraction process!
Unfortunately, some essential oil companies have claimed that frankincense essential oil contains boswellic acids – and therefore offer the therapeutic benefits of boswellic acids. Although most are no longer making these claims, the myths and misunderstandings persist.
Essential oils are captured during steam distillation, or sometimes by liquid carbon dioxide. The molecules in frankincense resin that are responsible for its key therapeutic benefits – including the boswellic acids - are simply too large to be captured this way. Boswellic acids are “non-volatile” compounds.
While frankincense essential oil is excellent for aromatherapy and stress relief, it does not contain the boswellic acids found in the whole resin.
When the whole resin is infused into a carrier oil, such as olive or sesame, by way of a slow extraction process, the result is an oil that captures boswellic acids and other compounds from the resin.
By the way, this is true for whole-herb oils as well – whether it’s a resin or an herb, there is a major difference between the plant’s essential oil and a whole-plant-infused oil. The vast majority of the oils on the market today are essential oils. They are simply marketed as “name of plant - oil” so you would not know the difference, at least without a bit more looking.
There are also major differences in the strength and purity of whole-plant infused oils, but that’s a topic for a different day.
The main point I am trying to make here is, to be a wise consumer you must understand what you are getting.
Two Kinds of Frankincense Resin Oil
There are two ways to make a frankincense oil that contains boswellic acids, and both are very different from essential oil.
Whole-resin-infused oil is made the old-fashioned way: raw frankincense resin is steeped in a carrier oil for days, weeks or even months. The oil picks up boswellic acids and other compounds from the resin slowly over time. Strength varies with many factors, including type of resin, infusion time, temperature, and other processes and factors.
I create my special holiday oil this way! It's a heavenly blend of several varieties of frankincense and myrrh resin, cinnamon, calamus root, rose petals, cottonwood buds, and several other herbs, infused for several months into pure organic extra virgin olive oil. It's a labor and time-intensive process, so I make a limited quantity each year.
Frankincense resin oil made from a boswellic acid extract is created by dissolving a standardized boswellic acid extract, a powder made from the resin, into a carrier oil. Because the extract has a measured boswellic acid content, the strength is consistent from batch to batch. My Premium frankincense oil is made with a 70% boswellic acid extract.
Either way, neither is an essential oil, and essential oil contains no boswellic acids. That is the distinction that matters most.
Frankincense Across the Ages
Frankincense has been celebrated for thousands of years across multiple cultures—not only for its divine aroma and ritualistic importance but also for its traditional medicinal uses.
🌱 Ancient Egyptians: The ancient Egyptians revered frankincense for its multiple roles in religious ceremonies, as a prized ingredient in perfumes and as a vital medicine. It was commonly used in salves and ointments to treat wounds and skin conditions due to its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. They even used frankincense in the embalming process where it was believed to help purify and preserve the body for the journey to the afterlife.
🌱 Traditional Chinese & Ayurvedic Medicine: Both Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Ayurveda have long valued frankincense for its healing capabilities. In TCM, frankincense has been used to stimulate blood circulation and alleviate pain, especially in joint afflictions. Ayurvedic practitioners employed it as a potent anti-inflammatory to balance the body’s energy and for chronic conditions such as arthritis. The resin was often applied topically in the form of poultices or infused into oils to reduce pain and swelling and accelerate healing.
🌱 Greeks & Romans: Ancient Greek and Roman societies held frankincense is high esteem both for its spiritual and medicinal attributes, as well as burning it for incense. Greek and Roman physicians incorporated frankincense into treatments for wounds and infections for its antiseptic qualities, as well as for digestive disorders.
🌱 Biblical References & Cultural Symbolism: Frankincense is perhaps best known in Western culture through its mention in biblical texts, most famously as one of the gifts presented by the Magi to the infant Jesus. This gift was not only a token of reverence but also symbolized the resin’s value in ancient medicine and spirituality.
Frankincense's Superpower: The Boswellic Acids
Before diving into frankincense oil specifically, let’s take a look at what makes Boswellia such a powerful medicinal ally.
Why is this ancient tree such a gift to us humans?
Research suggests it comes down to how its compounds influence inflammatory pathways in the body.
Turns out, frankincense resin contains a secret weapon! A family of naturally occurring compounds called boswellic acids, or BA for short.
Interestingly, the chemical structure of BA closely resembles that of steroids, but they work differently. Boswellic acids act on different immune pathways in the body.
There are four main boswellic acids (chemical classification is pentacyclic triterpenic acids). The most potent is acetyl-11-keto-β-boswellic acid, or AKBA, because it inhibits 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX), an enzyme involved in inflammation.(Hamidpour et al 2013)
Boswellia serrata is the best studied of the Boswellia species. Some studies (Siddiqui 2011) have compared its effects with those of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which carry well-documented risks such as stomach ulcers, bleeding, and kidney and cardiovascular problems. In recent meta-analyses of randomized trials in knee osteoarthritis, Boswellia was not associated with more adverse events than placebo. (Zhang et al 2025; Inprasit et al 2025)
So what has research looked at? Quite a lot, although much of it is early. Boswellia has been used traditionally for thousands of years, but the research is young.
Six Compelling Areas of Boswellia Research
1. Inflammation & Pain
A well-cited study involving individuals with osteoarthritis of the knee reported that Boswellia serrata extract reduced pain and improved knee flexion and walking distance. (Kimmatkar et al 2003).
A meta-analysis found evidence of benefit for osteoarthritis symptoms (Ganpeng Yu 2020).
In a very recent placebo-controlled clinical trial, a group of 98 knee osteoarthritis patients between the ages of 40 and 75 showed improvement in their symptoms from a Boswellia extract in just 5 days. (Majeed et al 2024)
Boswellia has been studied for arthritis, tendonitis, and other sources of pain and inflammation. Even the Arthritis Foundation lists boswellic acid as a potential therapy for both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis sufferers.
2. Histamines
Early laboratory research suggests Boswellia may stabilize mast cell activity. (Pungle et al 2003)
3. Skin Healing & Rejuvenation
Early research suggests Boswellia may promote collagen production and improve skin’s hydration and elasticity, supporting skin regeneration. It has been used traditionally to support wound healing and to minimize the appearance of scars. One recent study found notable antibacterial and antioxidant skin benefits from Boswellia sacra and Boswellia serrata resin. (Al-Saban et al 2025)
4. Cancer Research
Boswellic acids have been studied primarily in laboratory and animal models of several cancers. Laboratory studies and one small human trial in breast cancer have explored anti-cancer activity of boswellic acids. Early studies have found some encouraging data for breast, brain, lung, and prostate cancer cell lines. These early studies do not show that Boswellia treats or prevents cancer in people, and no frankincense product should be used in place of medical care.
According to Trivedi (2023), in cell studies:
BAs and their semi-synthetic derivatives are effective against a broad spectrum of cancer cell lines. They have a minimal potential for resistance due to the multiple ways they operate in the cancer cell lines. The ability of BAs to control cellular epigenetic mechanisms highlights their anti-cancer properties, as they promote apoptosis in cancer cells and inhibit the malignant primary metabolic pathways and DNA, RNA, and protein synthesis.
5. Autoimmune and Inflammatory Conditions
Boswellia has been studied for its effects on immune and inflammatory pathways involved in autoimmune disease. Some of this research relates to how Boswellia inhibits leukotriene production, because increased leukotrienes are tied to many autoimmune diseases. (Ammon 2010).
For example, in one small, early study of ulcerative colitis, 82 percent of patients taking Boswellia extract went into remission after 6 weeks — a higher rate than in the group taking the standard prescription drug sulfasalazine. (Gupta et al 1997)
Boswellic acids have also been studied in conditions such as asthma, IBD, and Crohn’s disease. Most of this research is early, but findings are encouraging about boswellia's potential benefits for these conditions.
6. Antimicrobial Research
Laboratory studies suggest frankincense has antimicrobial properties, and it has been used traditionally for respiratory and skin complaints. (Ismail et al 2014, Raja et al 2011)
You might be wondering, is there anything Boswellia hasn't been studied for?
In reality, I have only scratched the surface! Covering everything Boswellia does is far beyond the scope of this article, which is probably too long already.
The Transdermal Option – What Does the Science Say?
In modern times, some folks have been taking Boswellia extracts orally in the form of a supplement, but there is another way to get those boswellic acids and other lovely compounds into the body: through the skin, or transdermally.
But does transdermal absorption really work?
The short answer is possibly, and it's being studied.
I can tell you that, for me, frankincense oil has been a Godsend — and many of my customers feel the same way. It was my experience with this magical oil that prompted me to create an apothecary in the first place.
Research shows that many compounds applied to the skin can be absorbed and enter circulation.
Transdermal absorption depends on several factors including the compound’s molecular size, fat solubility, formulation, and the condition of the skin’s outer layer, the stratum corneum.
The skin is designed as a protective barrier, and the stratum corneum is the outermost layer that limits the penetration of substances. However, many lipophilic (fat-soluble) compounds can bypass this barrier, particularly when formulated in a carrier oil. Once a compound passes through the stratum corneum, it enters the epidermis and dermis, where it can be taken up by the capillary networks and enter systemic circulation.
Most of this research has focused on synthetic drugs, and research on boswellic acids specifically is still limited, but logically, one could apply the same principles to natural compounds.
When these compounds are delivered in an oil-based formulation—like in frankincense resin oil—the carrier oil may enhance their penetration through the skin.
Two Interesting Studies
A Stanford study involving mice (2014)
Researchers compared oral boswellic acid with topical preparations in mice with osteoarthritis of the knee. When applied to the skin, boswellic acids reached the joint tissue at levels two to six times higher than in the blood. Both the oral and topical forms significantly reduced cartilage loss, joint inflammation, and bone spur formation compared with an untreated control group. (Wang et al 2015)
A human clinical trial (2023)
In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, adults with knee osteoarthritis applied an oil containing a boswellic acid–enriched extract (from Boswellia serrata) to the knee three times daily for four weeks. Compared with placebo, the boswellia group reported less pain and better knee function. (Mohsenzadeh et al 2023)
These findings are encouraging, though not the final word: one study was in mice, and the human trial was short. Together, they suggest that topical boswellia is well worth further study.
Guidelines for Using Frankincense Oil
Frankincense resin oils, whether whole-resin-infused or made from an extract, can be used like any other body oil and applied directly to the skin. It can be applied as a spot treatment for skin issues or applied over a wider area.
2 to 3 times a day to the desired area, as tolerated. By liberally, I mean as much as you can get your skin to soak in. It will leave your skin oily for a while so you will probably want to cover the area with light cotton clothing of some kind that you don't mind getting oily.
If any signs of irritation develop such as redness or itching, the oil should be discontinued.
When applying frankincense oil to the face, avoid the area immediately around the eyes. Some whole-resin-infused oils are quite thick and may need to be diluted for the face. Oils made from the extract do not need to be diluted.
*One note on frankincense essential oil: If you want to apply a frankincense essential oil to your skin or face, always dilute it into a carrier oil first rather than applying full strength.
When to Consider an Oral Boswellia Supplement
As an alternative to using frankincense oil externally, you might want to consider an oral boswellia supplement. This might be preferable instead of the oil - or even in addition to it - if you are able to swallow capsules and wish to take boswellia internally.
Although there are a number of boswellia supplements on the market, the one I recommend was spearheaded by Robyn Kessler.
Robyn is a certified aromatherapist and frankincense expert who has been working with hospice patients for a number of years. She has partnered with a company in The Netherlands to create a high-potency oral boswellia supplement that contains 70% boswellic acids, including AKBA - extracted using organic alcohol instead of hexane, unlike many commercial varieties.
She conducted an introductory study using this supplement for individuals with a variety of diseases and chronic pain conditions, reporting favorable results in an early, one-month study published in 2024. (Kessler 2024)
If you are interested in this oral boswellia supplement, I do carry it in the apothecary. Here is a supplement info page with more information about it.
For in-depth information, the following webinar is an excellent YouTube presentation about what goes into the making of this supplement, and what makes it so different.
Try Frankincense Resin Oil for Yourself
You have now seen how frankincense is rooted in both ancient tradition and modern research. Frankincense resin oils contain boswellic acids, which have been studied for their anti-inflammatory effects.
Unlike frankincense essential oil, which lacks these key compounds, resin oils — whether whole-resin-infused or made from an extract — contain these compounds and have a wonderfully intoxicating scent! People have asked, what does frankincense smell like?
It is a rich and complex aroma with notes ranging from woody or piney to citrusy, peppery, spicy or smokey. Some frankincense smells herbaceous, while others are more earthy or musky. Frankincense essential oils tend to have a sharper, brighter edge whereas the whole resin and whole-resin-infused oils have a softer, more rounded aroma. The scent of frankincense differs by species, form, climate, and even by the season during which the tree produced the resin. Many find the scent of frankincense calming and uplifting.
Just remember to always be mindful of where you buy your frankincense. By choosing to support businesses who obtain their resins from those committed to fair trade, ethical harvesting and sustainable tree farming, you help protect the environment and preserve this important resource for future generations.
❓Frequently Asked Questions
What is frankincense oil good for?
Frankincense resin oils, whether whole-resin-infused or made from a boswellic acid extract, contain boswellic acids from the resin, which are absent from essential oil. Boswellic acids have been studied for their anti-inflammatory effects, particularly in osteoarthritis, and frankincense has a long history of traditional use for skin and joint care.
How do you use frankincense oil?
Whole-resin-infused frankincense oil can be applied directly to the skin. Apply 2 to 3 times daily to the affected area. Frankincense essential oil must always be diluted in a carrier oil before skin application.
How do you use frankincense oil for pain?
You must use a whole-resin-infused or extract-based frankincense oil, not essential oil, as boswellic acids are only present in the resin and its extracts. Apply liberally to the area 2 to 3 times daily. Some people notice a difference within days, while for others it takes a couple of weeks.
How do you use frankincense oil on the face?
Frankincense oil can be used like any other face oil, provided you are using the correct kind of frankincense oil. A whole-resin-infused frankincense oil consists of frankincense resin infused into a carrier oil (olive, almond, jojoba, etc.), and this can be applied directly to the face, as can an oil made from a boswellic acid extract. If you have a frankincense essential oil, then it should be diluted into a carrier oil before being applied to the face. The oil can be used as a spot treatment or applied in a thin layer over the entire face, avoiding the area immediately around the eyes. Some whole-resin-infused oils are quite thick and may need to be diluted – jojoba oil is a nice base. If any signs of irritation develop such as redness or itching, it should be discontinued.
What is the difference between whole-resin-infused frankincense oil and frankincense oil made from an extract?
Whole-resin-infused oil is made by steeping raw resin in a carrier oil, so its strength varies. Extract-based oil is made by dissolving a standardized boswellic acid extract into a carrier oil, so its strength is consistent. Both contain boswellic acids, which frankincense essential oil does not.
What does frankincense smell like?
Frankincense has a rich, complex aroma with notes ranging from woody and piney to citrusy, spicy, or smoky. The scent varies by species, form, and climate. Many find it calming and uplifting.