What is Frankincense Essential Oil

Hey, Body Lovers! 💜

A while back, we talked about the difference between essential oils and diffuser oils. We learned that while they may share space in your diffuser, they aren't necessarily the same thing.

So now it's time to get a little more acquainted with the essential oils themselves.

And we're starting with an old favorite:

Frankincense.

If you've heard the name before but aren't quite sure what frankincense actually is, you're in good company. You may recognize it from fragrance, skincare, aromatherapy—or perhaps from a certain very famous biblical gift.

But before frankincense becomes the essential oil in that little bottle, its story begins somewhere much more interesting.

Frankincense Starts With a Tree

Frankincense comes from trees in the Boswellia genus.

When the bark of the tree is carefully cut, it releases a sticky resin. That resin eventually hardens into small pieces often called tears.

And yes, we're talking about actual tree resin.

Those fragrant little pieces can be used as incense themselves, or their aromatic components can be extracted—commonly through steam distillation—to produce frankincense essential oil.

So when you open a bottle of frankincense essential oil, you're experiencing an aromatic material that began as resin from a tree.

Pretty fascinating for such a tiny bottle.

What Does Frankincense Smell Like?

This is one of those fragrances that's difficult to describe with just one word.

Frankincense can smell resinous, earthy, woody, warm, and slightly spicy, with nuances that vary depending on the Boswellia species and the oil itself.

It's grounding without necessarily feeling heavy, which is one reason it works beautifully on its own and in blends.

Pair it with other woody or resinous aromas and it settles right in.

Add citrus and suddenly it can feel brighter.

Blend it with florals and you may discover an entirely different side of it.

Frankincense knows how to play well with others.

More Than a Beautiful Aroma

Frankincense has a long history of aromatic and traditional use, and today its essential oil can be found in everything from home fragrance and aromatherapy to skincare and personal-care formulations.

You'll also find plenty of claims about frankincense online—some rooted in traditional use, some based on personal experience, and others connected to scientific research.

Those aren't necessarily the same thing.

Essential oils contain naturally occurring compounds that researchers continue to study. Traditional knowledge can tell us how a plant has historically been used. Personal experience can tell us what someone has observed. Scientific research helps us investigate why something may happen and how confidently we can make broader conclusions.

At Body Love, we think there's room to learn from all of it—as long as we're clear about what we're talking about.

Because curiosity isn't about accepting every claim we hear.

It's about wanting to understand more.

How Can Frankincense Essential Oil Be Used?

Frankincense is wonderfully versatile.

For aromatic use, frankincense essential oil can be added to Body Love diffusers or other compatible diffusersaccording to the diffuser's directions. It can stand beautifully on its own or be blended with other essential oils to create an entirely different aromatic experience.

But at Body Love, frankincense doesn't only live beside the diffuser.

We use it in a variety of our formulations, including some of our face oils.

And this is where things get particularly interesting for us.

In our own experience using these finished formulations, we've seen improvements in the appearance of fine lines and the overall look and feel of the skin.

That's an important distinction.

We're sharing what we've observed cosmetically from using a complete Body Love formulation. We're not claiming that frankincense essential oil by itself treats, prevents, or cures a skin condition.

That's also why we talk so much about formulation around here.

An ingredient may bring interesting properties to a product, but what surrounds that ingredient matters too. Essential oils are highly concentrated, and when they're used on the body, appropriate dilution, intended use, and the complete formulation all play a role.

The Body Love Perspective

At Body Love, our appreciation for plant ingredients is rooted in something deeper than trends.

We believe God created the natural world with purpose, and we're continually fascinated by how much there is to learn about the plants, oils, butters, resins, and other materials He placed here for us.

Learning how to use them well is part of honoring that gift.

That means we can appreciate traditional knowledge. We can share what we've experienced in our own formulations. We can follow emerging research with curiosity. And we can also be clear about what has—and hasn't—been established scientifically.

Those things don't have to compete.

For us, responsible education isn't about diminishing what nature can do. It's about understanding these ingredients more deeply so we can use them wisely, intentionally, and with respect for what they are.

Frankincense is a beautiful example.

It begins as resin from a tree. It carries centuries of history. It has an unmistakable aroma. We use it in our homes and in some of our skincare formulations. And researchers, formulators, and everyday users continue to learn more about it.

We think that's worth being curious about.

A Note About Essential Oil Information

The information we share at Body Love comes from our experience, product knowledge, and the research we gather as we continue learning.

We share it for educational purposes, not as medical advice.

Body Love does not recommend using essential oils as replacements for prescribed medications or professional medical care. If you have a medical condition, take medication, are pregnant, or have other circumstances that may affect whether an essential oil is appropriate for you, talk with a qualified healthcare professional before use.

In other words, we're happy to help you understand what's in the bottle.

Your doctor still gets to be your doctor. 💜