7 Things Most People Don't Know About Frankincense Resin Oil
Valerie Burke, MSNMaster of Science in Nursing; Geologist; Founder of Shungite Queen
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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 oil.
If you've been using frankincense essential oil and wondering why it doesn't seem to do what you expected, this article explains how the two products differ.
Last updated October 2026
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 oil is made with a completely different process: the boswellic acids come from the resin itself, not its distillate.
Traditionally, whole resin was steeped in a carrier oil for hours, days or weeks. Today I dissolve a lab-verified resin extract into organic sesame oil (see "How I make mine" below).
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% or more total boswellic acids, including AKBA, the most studied boswellic acid.
View the Certificate of Analysis →
How I make mine: When I started, I made my oil by steeping whole resin. Today I use a lab-verified boswellic acid extract instead, because it gives every batch a consistent, measurable level of boswellic acids, which steeping simply can’t guarantee. Same mission, better science.
2. Almost Every Product Labeled "Frankincense Oil" Is Actually Essential Oil 🍃
Walk into any health food store or search online for "frankincense oil" and most products you'll find — when you read the fine print — are 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.
Resin-based frankincense oil is much less common than essential oil. When you find a small maker who produces it, you're buying something made in small batches rather than a mass-market 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. Studied for their anti-inflammatory activity, these molecules are considered the resin's main active constituents. However, they are large, heavy molecules that cannot be captured by steam distillation.
Unfortunately, many essential oil producers discard these spent resins after essential oil extraction. That means the part of the plant richest in boswellic acids can end up in the trash! Frankincense resin oil keeps the boswellic acids that distillation leaves behind.
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 oil is closer in spirit 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 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 making use of the resin left over after distillation, resin oil honors more of the tree's natural gift. 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 product made from resin that would otherwise be discarded 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 oil is already suspended in a carrier oil, so it needs no additional dilution. For daily facial use, body application, or anyone with sensitive skin, resin oil is the more practical and forgiving choice.
7. Safety Precautions to Consider 🍃
While frankincense resin oil is generally safe for topical use, it's wise to take precautions. Some individuals may experience skin sensitivity or allergic reactions, particularly people allergic to tree resins. Stop use if irritation occurs, and keep it away from your eyes.
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 a frankincense oral supplement, in capsule form.)
FAQ
- What is frankincense resin oil? A carrier oil containing a boswellic acid extract made from frankincense resin. It is not frankincense essential oil.
- Is frankincense essential oil the same thing? No. Essential oil is steam-distilled and contains the resin’s small volatile compounds. Boswellic acids are too large to be carried over.
- Is it safe to use on skin? Generally yes, but patch test first and see the safety notes above.
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