The History of Frankincense: From Ancient Trade Routes to Your Home

Few substances in human history have been as universally valued as frankincense. For thousands of years, it was traded across continents, burned in temples, used in medicine, and offered as a gift to kings. Today, it sits in amber bottles on aromatherapy shelves — but its story is anything but ordinary.

What Is Frankincense?

Frankincense is a resin harvested from trees of the Boswellia genus, primarily Boswellia sacra, Boswellia carterii, and Boswellia serrata. These hardy, drought-resistant trees grow in the arid regions of the Arabian Peninsula, East Africa, and India — particularly in Oman, Somalia, Ethiopia, and Eritrea.

The resin is obtained by making incisions in the bark of the tree, allowing the sap to bleed out and harden into “tears” — small, irregular lumps of resin that range in colour from pale yellow to deep amber. These tears are then harvested by hand, a practice unchanged for millennia.

Ancient Origins

The use of frankincense stretches back at least 5,000 years. Archaeological evidence suggests it was burned in ancient Egypt as early as 3000 BCE — used in religious ceremonies, as an offering to the gods, and in the embalming process. Egyptian texts describe it as a gift from the gods themselves.

In ancient Mesopotamia, Babylon, and Persia, frankincense was burned in temples and palaces. The Babylonians imported vast quantities from Arabia, and it appears in some of the earliest written records of trade.

The Frankincense Trade Route

At the height of the ancient spice trade, frankincense was among the most valuable commodities in the world — worth more than gold by weight in some periods. The “Incense Route” stretched from the frankincense-producing regions of southern Arabia (modern-day Oman and Yemen) northward through the Arabian Peninsula to the Mediterranean, where it was distributed throughout the Roman Empire and beyond.

The city of Petra — the famous rose-red city carved into the cliffs of Jordan — grew wealthy as a key waypoint on this route. The Nabataean traders who controlled Petra became enormously rich from the frankincense trade.

Roman demand for frankincense was insatiable. It was burned at funerals, in temples, and in private homes. The Roman historian Pliny the Elder complained that Rome’s appetite for frankincense was draining the empire’s treasury.

Frankincense in Religion and Ceremony

Ancient Egypt — burned as an offering to Ra and other deities; used in temple rituals and royal ceremonies.

Judaism — specified in the Torah as one of the ingredients of the sacred incense burned in the Temple in Jerusalem.

Christianity — one of the three gifts brought by the Magi to the infant Jesus, alongside gold and myrrh. Still used in Catholic, Orthodox, and Anglican liturgy today — including in the incense blends of Prinknash Abbey.

Islam — burned in mosques and homes for purification and as an offering.

Buddhism and Hinduism — used in temple ceremonies and meditation practices across Asia.

Frankincense in Ancient Medicine

Long before modern aromatherapy, frankincense was used medicinally across cultures. Ancient Egyptian medical papyri describe its use for wounds, infections, and skin conditions. Ayurvedic medicine has used Boswellia serrata for thousands of years to treat inflammatory conditions — a use now supported by modern research showing that boswellic acids (compounds in frankincense) have genuine anti-inflammatory properties.

The Science Behind the Sacred

Modern research has begun to explain why frankincense has been so universally valued. Studies have shown that incensole acetate — a compound found in Boswellia resin — activates ion channels in the brain associated with reduced anxiety and depression. In other words, the ancients who burned frankincense to create a sacred, peaceful atmosphere were onto something real.

Frankincense essential oil has been shown to slow and deepen breathing, reduce heart rate, and promote a sense of calm — making it one of the most effective oils for meditation and stress relief.

Frankincense Today

Today, frankincense is experiencing something of a renaissance. Growing interest in natural wellness, meditation, and mindful living has driven demand for authentic frankincense products — both as essential oil and as resin incense.

At Vivid Aromas, we stock frankincense essential oil and resin incense including the celebrated Prinknash Abbey blends, which have incorporated frankincense into their traditional recipes for over a century. When you burn Prinknash Abbey frankincense, you’re participating in a tradition that stretches back to the ancient world.

A Note on Sustainability

It’s worth noting that wild Boswellia trees are under pressure from overharvesting and habitat loss. When buying frankincense products, look for suppliers who source responsibly. We are committed to working with suppliers who take sustainability seriously.

Browse our frankincense essential oils and resin incense at Vivid Aromas.