Frankincense Resin – Grade 3, Pure Small Grains (2–4 mm), 50 g Pack – Natural Church Incense from Boswellia Carteri

This natural frankincense (Olibanum) resin is harvested from Boswellia Carteri trees native to Arabia and East Africa. The resin appears as round or oval yellow-amber droplets. In February or March, cuts are made into the tree bark, allowing the resin to flow continuously over time, covering the trunk until the wound seals. The dried resin is then collected from the tree and the ground. The quality of frankincense is determined by its transparency – the more transparent, the better the quality and the higher the price. Boswellia resin produces a smoky, balsamic, slightly sweet and resinous aroma when burned. It has been used as incense for over five thousand years. In ancient times, frankincense was valued like gold and even used medicinally to heal wounds. Church incense has the wonderful property of suppressing microbes in the air, water, and human body. Water infused with frankincense was traditionally used for stomach and intestinal ailments. Today, ion-exchange resins are used for water purification, though they lack the healing properties of natural incense. Still, natural resins remain more of a remedy for the soul than for the body. Healing the soul can relieve physical ailments.

How to burn: Place a lit charcoal disc in a censer (a metal or ceramic container). Use tongs to heat the charcoal directly over a flame until it is glowing and covered with a thin layer of ash. Place it in the censer and sprinkle frankincense around it. The incense will immediately begin to release aromatic smoke.

Alternative method: Use an oil lamp with lamp oil, a floating wick, and a metal incense holder (spider). Light the wick and place a small piece of resin on the holder above the flame. Wait a few moments for the heat to release the fragrant smoke. This method works more slowly but requires no charcoal.