Frankincense Frankincense (OmanEthiopia)

Why Ethiopia and Oman?

For thousands of years, frankincense has captivated civilizations—from the temples of ancient Egypt to the trade routes of Assyria and beyond. Often referred to as the world’s oldest global supply chain, the precious resins have been treasured for their spiritual, wellness, and aromatic properties. doTERRA honors this rich legacy by sourcing multiple species of frankincense to craft a distinctive essential oil blend.

Among the various species in doTERRA Frankincense essential oil, two remarkable species are Boswellia papyrifera, harvested in the highlands of Ethiopia, and Boswellia sacra, gathered from the rugged mountains of southern Oman.

Ethiopia: Boswellia papyrifera

While Boswellia sacra grows in the rocky deserts of Arabia, Boswellia papyrifera is native to East Africa, with a taller, straighter trunk and smoother bark. It thrives in dry woodland regions.

Boswellia papyrifera comes from the rugged landscapes of Ethiopia. doTERRA sourcing efforts focus on the Tigray, Benishangul, and Amhara regions, where these hardy trees prosper in arid, rocky terrain. Here, amid the heat and isolation, local and semi-nomadic harvesters carry out the ancient tradition of resin collection.

Oman: Boswellia sacra

In the sun-drenched mountains of southern Oman, Boswellia sacra trees flourishes in one of the world’s most dramatic and demanding landscapes. Native to the Dhofar region, this remarkable species produces one of the prized varieties of frankincense: Boswellia sacra. Like its Ethiopian cousin, Boswellia papyrifera, it thrives in rugged, arid terrain where few other plants can survive. Even the air in Oman smells of frankincense resin, as hotel lobbies, homes, and mosques burn the incense.

The distinct and rich scent is one of blended honey and wood. When freshly cut, the aroma permeates the air with its regal, ancient presence. Until it dries and hardens, it’s sticky to the touch and stains the fingers of harvesters and UNESCO Heritage1 tourists alike. It’s cherished as a treasure by the government and people of Oman, and this reverence has spread across the globe as the essential oil has become more accessible.

The Boswellia sacra tree has a rugged, twisted form, with pale papery bark that peels away to reveal a greenish layer beneath. Its leaves are soft and feathery when young, clustered at the tips of gnarled branches. The flowers are small and delicate, with creamy white to pale yellow petals that give off a light, sweet fragrance. Physically, Boswellia sacra differs from Boswellia papyrifera in subtle but telling ways. Boswellia Sacra trees are generally shorter, with wide-spreading branches and a broader canopy—an adaptation to the intense sun and dry winds of southern Arabia. In contrast, Boswellia papyrifera trees tend to grow taller with a smooth, upright trunk and bark that flakes in larger sheets. The flowers of the Boswellia papyrifera tree are similar in size to the Boswellia sacra tree but often slightly more yellow in hue, with a different scent profile.

Together, these two species—sourced from opposite ends of the ancient frankincense trail—form the heart of doTERRA Frankincense essential oil. Each drop tells a story of resilience and tradition and the enduring bond between people and the land.

Harvesting Resins

Harvesting frankincense resins is no easy task.

The essential oil comes from frankincense tree resins. One Boswellia tree can produce one to three kilograms of resin in one five-month season in Ethiopia and three to five kilograms in Oman. It takes 12–20 years for a Boswellia tree to mature for harvesting. Frankincense harvesting is a time-honored tradition, carried out with care and precision in both Ethiopia and Oman.

In each region, skilled hands make deliberate incisions in the bark of the Boswellia trees, prompting them to release milky sap. Over several days, this sap crystallizes into golden, tear-shaped droplets, each one a quiet tribute to the tree’s strength and the harvester’s dedication.

These trees are found in mountainous regions. Harvesting them requires an arduous climb to where they’re rooted, followed by the climb back carrying the resin. Transporting frankincense resins to the facility is always a significant challenge but worth doing.

In Ethiopia, Boswellia papyrifera resin is gathered by local and semi-nomadic harvesters, who spend weeks in remote mountainous areas during the peak dry seasons—October to December and January to March—on a rotational basis. These months offer the ideal conditions for resin flow and drying, as the intense heat helps the sap harden efficiently into high-quality resin.

In Oman, the story of Boswellia sacra unfolds a bit differently. The doTERRA sourcing partner has established a plantation with access to vast wild frankincense forests, so Omani frankincense is both cultivated and wild-harvested. Many of these wild forests remain untouched, preserved by the government as a testament to the cultural and historical significance of frankincense in the region. The resin is typically collected by full-time migrant laborers, with each tree sustainably tapped up to five times per year. During the scorching harvest season—May to September—harvesters journey daily into the rugged Dhofar Mountains. The terrain is harsh and the temperatures extreme, yet their efforts yield a resin of notable clarity and aromatic depth. Often, the freshly gathered resin is taken straight to distillation while still warm and soft, preserving its full complexity and character. Resin tears are carefully cleaned and organized by size and color by harvesters before distillation.

Though separated by geography and culture, both harvests reflect a shared reverence for the land, a deep respect for tradition, and a commitment to honoring the ancient legacy of frankincense.

Production Process

Frankincense essential oil is hydrodistilled. Steam distillation doesn’t effectively penetrate the hard frankincense resin, so a more intensive method is required. Sometimes called “water distillation,” hydrodistillation involves putting resins in boiling water rather than above it, like in steam distillation. To keep the resin from settling on the bottom and burning, or building up foam, it’s constantly stirred. The rest of the process is like steam distillation, with the steam carrying the essential oil into the condenser.

Co-Impact Sourcing®

Promoting Environmental Sustainability

doTERRA is proud to support the sustainable harvest of frankincense resins and invest in efforts to increase the population of both species. doTERRA has worked with experts such as Niguse Hagazi, a PhD candidate and researcher for the International Center for Research in Agroforestry (ICRAF) in Ethiopia, and Professor Emiru Birhane from the University of Mekele. These experts educate and empower locals, apply new technologies to address deforestation, and engage in the development, management, and production of frankincense trees.

doTERRA champions research and sustainability initiatives to protect these sacred and historic trees, including presenting on these successes and lessons learned at the Sixth World Congress on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (WOCMAP VI) in 2019.

Responsible frankincense sourcing is a critical initiative for doTERRA, particularly in Ethiopia and Oman, where the sustainability of both Boswellia species is under threat. Nearly half of the world’s frankincense forests are in decline because of overharvesting, land conversion, and environmental degradation.

In response, doTERRA has developed a comprehensive strategy focused on these key areas: sustainable harvesting, land management, and large-scale propagation. Efforts include conducting baseline assessments using satellite and ground data, setting sustainable resin yield limits, training harvesters in ethical practices, and building a traceability system for resin origin verification. Through these actions, doTERRA aimed to establish a replicable industry standard and inform global policy.

In Ethiopia, where Boswellia papyrifera plays a vital ecological and socioeconomic role, frankincense forests are rapidly declining. To support their future, doTERRA has cofunded a papyrifera propagation initiative, including a nursery in the Sherkole area of the Benishangul region that’s succeeded in planting over 600 cuttings, with plans to scale into other areas. These initiatives are designed to restore tree populations and support local communities that depend on frankincense for their livelihoods. While regional conflicts require a temporary pause on the project, we’re encouraged to see the trees that were planted continue to thrive—an enduring sign of resilience and hope.

The doTERRA propagation strategy:

• Establish nurseries and test propagation techniques for survival rates.

• Distribute thousands of seedlings and cuttings annually.

• Support reforestation and plantation development to reduce pressure on wild trees.

• Set propagation targets aligned with forest decline rates to ensure long-term regeneration.

In contrast to Ethiopia, Oman’s frankincense forests are relatively stable thanks to strong cultural reverence and government support. Frankincense holds deep economic and cultural significance there, prompting proactive preservation efforts. With backing from doTERRA, local partners have launched a large-scale propagation nursery to further bolster forest health for Boswellia sacra. The dedication of the doTERRA sourcing partner in Oman has led to the successful planting of many trees on their farm, contributing meaningfully to the preservation of this valuable species. Over 20,000 Boswellia sacra trees and seedlings have been propagated on this farm since 2016.

In both countries, these nurseries are envisioned as hubs for learning, training, and demonstration in the hopes of scaling propagation efforts into surrounding mountainous regions. As global demand for Frankincense essential oil grows, the doTERRA sourcing model is more important than ever—not only to protect a precious natural resource, but also to empower communities and preserve cultural heritage.

Building a Positive Work Culture

The doTERRA partner in Oman seeks to build a positive work culture, in which full-time, salaried employees are extended opportunities to work toward their personal goals. Benefits they offer their employees can include covering medical expenses, paying for round-trip flights when they travel to their native countries, and providing long-term loans to help them purchase land and build homes.

Frankincense Essential Oil | doTERRA Behind the Bottle: Episode 10

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