“Frankincense” is not one thing. It’s the resin of the Boswellia genus, and there are more than twenty species in it. Four of them make up almost everything sold as frankincense today. They look different, smell different, and are priced very differently — so it’s worth knowing what you’re buying.
Boswellia carterii — the classic
Origin: Somalia and the Horn of Africa.
Aroma: warm, balsamic, a bright lemon-pine top note, soft honey and wood underneath.
Tears: pale gold to amber, translucent when held to the light.
This is the frankincense most people picture: the one that has been traded from the Horn of Africa for thousands of years and the species most often studied for its boswellic acid content. It burns clean and rounded, without harshness, which makes it the best all-purpose choice for incense, meditation, and home fragrance. It’s the only species we sell.
Boswellia sacra — the Omani cousin
Origin: Oman and Yemen (Dhofar region).
Aroma: very close to carterii — slightly greener and sharper, with a touch more citrus.
Tears: ranges from pale green-white (“Hojari”) to amber.
Botanists still argue about whether sacra and carterii are separate species or regional forms of the same tree; their chemistry overlaps heavily. In practice the difference you’ll notice is price. Omani sacra, especially the pale “Royal Hojari” grade, carries a premium built on scarcity and branding rather than a dramatically better burn. If you like carterii, you’ll like sacra — and you’ll pay more for it.
Boswellia serrata — the Indian species
Origin: India.
Aroma: thinner and more turpentine-like, with less sweetness.
Tears: often darker, more opaque, and sold in smaller broken pieces.
Serrata is the species behind most “Boswellia” supplements and is grown and harvested at scale, which keeps the price low. As an incense it’s serviceable but flat compared with carterii. If a listing is very cheap and doesn’t name the species, it’s usually serrata.
Boswellia frereana — the chewing resin
Origin: northern Somalia, often called “Maydi.”
Aroma: clean, coniferous, almost minty.
Tears: large, pale, waxy, and surprisingly soft.
Frereana contains almost no boswellic acid and doesn’t go brittle like other species, which is why it has been chewed as a natural gum across the Horn of Africa and the Gulf for generations. It burns well but smells quite different from classic frankincense — think fresh pine rather than temple.
How to tell what you’ve got
Hold a tear up to a window. Carterii and sacra glow amber and let light through. Serrata tends to look cloudy and dull. Frereana is pale and almost waxy, and you can press a fingernail into it. Then smell it unburned: quality carterii is aromatic straight out of the pouch. If you need to burn it to smell anything, the grade is low.
Which should you buy?
For burning, meditation, and scenting a home, Grade I carterii gives the best balance of aroma, clean burn, and price. Sacra is a fine alternative if you want to try the Omani profile and don’t mind the premium. Serrata is a budget option, and frereana is a specialty resin for people who already know they want it.
Ours is Grade I Boswellia carterii from Somalia, hand-sorted, nothing added. The Resin →