7 Things Most People Don't Know About Frankincense Resin Oil
Valerie BurkeShare
Most people searching for frankincense oil have only ever encountered frankincense essential oil — the small, concentrated bottle sold at health food stores and wellness shops everywhere. But there's an older, richer tradition behind frankincense that most modern shoppers have never heard of: frankincense resin-infused oil.
If you've been using frankincense essential oil and wondering why the results feel underwhelming, this article may change everything you thought you knew.
1. It Starts With the Actual Resin — Not a Distillation Process 🍃
Frankincense essential oil is made through steam distillation — a process that uses heat and pressure to extract volatile aromatic compounds from the resin. Frankincense resin-infused oil is made with a completely different process: whole frankincense resin is steeped directly in a carrier oil, allowing its full spectrum of compounds - including those beneficial boswellic acids - to transfer naturally into the oil over time.
Think of it like the difference between instant coffee and brewed. One preserves the whole plant; the other isolates select compounds. Not an exact comparison, but you get the idea.
It's important to note that not all frankincense resin is created equal. The Boswellia genus has several species, such as B. sacra, B. serrata, and B. carterii, each with a unique chemical makeup. The prized boswellic acids, for example, are abundant in B. serrata and B. carterii but virtually absent in B. frereana. The therapeutic quality of a resin oil is therefore directly linked to the species of resin used.
The resin used to make our frankincense oils, salves and creams is sustainably sourced B. carterii. Every batch is verified by an independent lab to contain 70% AKBA or higher (the most therapeutic boswellic acid).
2. Almost Every Product Labeled "Frankincense Oil" Is Actually Essential Oil 🍃
Walk into any health food store or search online for "frankincense oil" and nearly every product you'll find — when you read the fine print — is frankincense essential oil. The label rarely makes this distinction clear, and most shoppers never think to check.
This is a source of monumental misunderstanding in the marketplace. Consumers assume "frankincense oil" means oil infused with frankincense. In reality, it almost always means a steam-distilled volatile extract — a fundamentally different product with a different compound profile, different application rules, and a different therapeutic potential.
Frankincense resin-infused oil is rarely produced commercially and almost never at scale. When you find a maker who produces it, you're buying something genuinely handcrafted — not a factory product.
3. The Most Studied Compounds Don't Survive Distillation — And Are Often Thrown Away 🍃
The most researched active constituents in frankincense are a group of compounds called boswellic acids. Renowned for their powerful anti-inflammatory, skin-regenerating, and health-supportive properties, these molecules are the primary drivers of the resin's therapeutic benefits. However, they are large, heavy molecules that cannot be captured by steam distillation.
Unfortunately, many essential oil producers simply discard these spent resins after essential oil extraction. Therefore, the most therapeutically valuable part of the plant ends up in the trash! Frankincense resin-infused oil preserves the whole resin — boswellic acids and all.
Learn more about the healing benefits of frankincense →
4. It Has a Much Longer History of Traditional Use 🍃
Steam distillation is a relatively modern technique. For thousands of years — across ancient Egypt, Ayurvedic practice, and traditional Middle Eastern medicine — frankincense resin was used as-is, or infused into oils and salves for topical application.
Frankincense resin-infused oil is closer to how this plant has been used for millennia. The essential oil, by contrast, is a product of modern extraction technology for use in the aromatherapy industry.
In terms of scent, frankincense resin-infused oil carries a richer, warmer, more complex aroma compared to frankincense essential oil — closer to the scent of the raw resin itself. For those who love the deep, sacred quality of frankincense, the resin oil is a softer, more rounded olfactory experience.
5. It's the More Sustainable and Ethical Choice 🍃
Frankincense trees are a precious, slow-growing resource, and many species are threatened by over-harvesting. Essential oil production is incredibly resource-intensive, requiring a massive amount of resin to produce a single small bottle of oil. The spent resin, still full of beneficial boswellic acids, is often discarded. This process is not only therapeutically incomplete, it is environmentally wasteful.
By using the whole resin, infused oil honors the entire gift of the tree. It is a more sustainable practice that maximizes the value of this sacred material, ensuring nothing is wasted. For consumers who care about ethical sourcing and the planet, choosing a whole-resin infusion is a more conscious choice.
6. It's Gentler and More Skin-Ready 🍃
Essential oils are highly concentrated and must always be diluted before applying to skin — undiluted use can cause irritation or sensitization. Reports have been increasing about allergic contact dermatitis from essential oils, a hypersensitivity reaction to allergens in sensitized individuals.
Frankincense resin-infused oil is already suspended in a carrier oil, making it inherently skin-friendly and ready to use without additional dilution. For daily facial use, body application, or anyone with sensitive skin, resin-infused oil is the more practical, therapeutic, and forgiving choice.
7. Safety Precautions to Consider 🍃
While frankincense resin-infused oil is generally safe for topical use, it's wise to take precautions. Some individuals may experience skin sensitivity or allergic reactions.
Always perform a patch test on a small area of skin, like the inner elbow, and wait 24 hours before applying more widely. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or taking medications, it is wise to consult with your healthcare provider before using any frankincense products. Our frankincense oil is intended for external use only. (We do offer one frankincense oral supplement, in capsule form.)
Ready to experience the difference? Shop Frankincense Resin-Infused Oil →