Frankincense Essential Oil 10mL
Frankincense comes from the hardened sap of Boswellia carterii, a scrubby tree that survives on rocky ground in the Horn of Africa. The bark is scored, the tree bleeds a milky resin, and that resin hardens into tears over several weeks before it is collected and steam distilled. Almost nothing else in the cabinet is made this way.
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Frankincense is steam distilled from the resin of Boswellia carterii. It is one of the oldest traded aromatics in the world, valued long before anyone could describe what was in it. The aroma is fresh and terpene-like with a subtle green-lemon note over a warm balsamic base, which is why it reads as both bright and grounding at once.
From bush to bottle
Harvesting frankincense means wounding the tree carefully and repeatedly. A shallow cut is made in the bark and the tree responds by bleeding resin to seal it. Done properly the same tree is tapped for decades. Done badly it kills the stand, which is why sourcing matters more here than for almost any other oil.
The resin is left on the bark to harden into tears. That takes several weeks, and it cannot be rushed. Only once the tears are dry and firm are they collected by hand and sorted, because resin quality varies considerably even within one tree.
Distilling resin is slower and lower yielding than distilling leaf. The hardened tears go into the still and steam draws the volatile oil out of them. Nothing is added afterwards, and every batch is GC/MS tested.
There are several Boswellia species traded as frankincense and they are not interchangeable. Boswellia carterii, sacra, frereana and serrata all produce distinct oils with different aromas and different constituent profiles. Plenty of retail frankincense simply says frankincense and leaves you to guess.
Zea's is Boswellia carterii from Somalia, stated on the bottle. That matters commercially as well as botanically: frankincense is under real pressure from overharvesting, and traceability to a species and a country is the difference between a supply chain someone is managing and one nobody is.
Quality and testing
Every batch is GC/MS tested and carries a certificate of analysis. The full constituent breakdown sits on the batch certificate rather than here, because the ranges shift with each season and harvest.
Boswellia grows where very little else will: thin soil over rock, long dry seasons, and heat. The trees often appear to be growing straight out of stone. That hostility is part of the story, because a tree under that much stress produces resin as a defence, and the resin is the product.
Frankincense, Buddha Wood and Cedarwood
| Frankincense | Buddha Wood | Cedarwood | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Botanical | Boswellia carterii | Eremophila mitchellii | Cedrus atlantica |
| Part distilled | Resin | Wood | Wood |
| Aroma | Fresh, terpenic, green-lemon | Smoky, whiskey-like | Woody, balsamic |
| Character | Bright and grounding | Deep and smoky | Warm and soft |
| Origin | Somalia | Australia | Morocco |
| Best for | Meditation and skincare | Grounding and mindfulness | Sleep and calm |
A botanical and aroma comparison to help you choose between oils. It is not a claim that one oil performs better than another.
Properties
Traditional and aromatherapy properties associated with this oil. Individual results differ, and this is not a substitute for advice from your health professional.
Ways to use it
3 to 6 drops in a diffuser or oil burner. The simplest way in.
Frankincense blends with Lavender, Kunzea, Patchouli, Cedarwood and the woody oils.
One or two drops in a carrier oil such as jojoba. Patch test first.
One drop inhaled from a tissue when you want the aroma on the move.
A few drops in water instead of a synthetic air freshener.
Well dispersed in a carrier or with bath salts, never neat on water.
A few drops in a homemade surface spray as a fresh deodoriser.
A drop in a facial oil or unscented moisturiser, well diluted.
What customers tell us
★★★★★
“I love the Frankincense oil, it is a beautiful oil and I use it in my diffuser most nights. The quality of Zea oils is excellent.”
Verified buyer · Verified buyer
★★★★★
“When purchasing my Lemon Myrtle essence, I also bought Kunzea and Frankincense. When all three are combined in my diffuser, they really compliment each other with a fresh and uplifting scent.”
Kym M. · Verified buyer
★★★★★
“What a fabulous trio of oils! These will undoubtedly get you into the spirit of things with the nirvana, frankincense and peppermint oils. Great in the diffuser!”
Bron A. · Verified buyer
Five-star reviews left by verified Judge.me buyers, quoted as written. These are individual customer experiences and results differ from person to person.
Complete your blending kit
Frankincense is a base note that sits under almost anything. These are the oils it works with most.
Zea's hero oil. Foresty depth under the resin.
$24.95
True lavender. The classic pairing for evening.
$24.95
Deep and earthy. Holds the base together.
$24.95
Soft woody warmth alongside the resin.
$19.95
The Australian base note, in place of sandalwood.
$44.95
Unscented base for diluting before any skin use.
$17.95
Single origin Australian essential oils since 2016
Questions, answered
A 100% pure essential oil, steam distilled from the resin of Boswellia carterii, sourced from Somalia. It is GC/MS tested and the species is stated on the bottle.
Fresh and terpene-like with a subtle green-lemon note over a warm balsamic base. Brighter than most people expect from a resin.
Start with 3 to 6 drops in a diffuser. For skin, dilute one or two drops in a carrier oil such as jojoba or sweet almond, and patch test first.
Several species are traded as frankincense — carterii, sacra, frereana, serrata — and they smell and behave differently. Much retail frankincense does not say which one it is. Zea's is Boswellia carterii.
The bark is scored, the tree bleeds resin to seal the wound, and the resin hardens into tears over several weeks. Those tears are collected and steam distilled. It is slower and lower yielding than distilling leaf.
No. Never apply an undiluted essential oil and never take one internally. Dilute in a carrier oil first, and patch test.
Yes. Every batch is GC/MS tested and carries a certificate of analysis, which is how the specifications on this page are established.
Keep it out of reach of children and never apply it undiluted. Diffuse in a ventilated room rather than a closed space. Check with your vet before diffusing around pets.
Below 30°C in a dry place away from direct sunlight, with the cap on firmly. The lighter constituents are always the first to escape.
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Free on Australian orders over $75. Orders are dispatched from our Australian warehouse.
Free shipping on Australian orders over $75 · 100% pure · GC/MS tested · Boswellia carterii, Somalia. Choose your pack and we will get it on its way.
Choose your packFrankincense Essential Oil is an aromatherapy product for external use only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Always dilute before use and follow the label directions. Statements about individual constituents refer to published research on those constituents, not to an outcome from using this product. If symptoms persist, talk to your health professional.
Frankincense Oil 10mL
