Frankincense Frankincense (OmanEthiopia)

Why Oman and Ethiopia?

Our Frankincense essential oil is a proprietary blend of four species of frankincense resin: Boswellia carterii, B. papyrifera, B. frereana, and B. sacra. Different frankincense trees thrive in different environments and soil types. For example, B. carterii trees grow best in sandy soils, while B. frereana trees grow best on dry, rocky terrain. B. frereana trees also produce the largest resin tears of the species.

We source from multiple locations to ensure we’re harvesting resin where each Boswellia species grows best—reducing environmental pressure on any single species.

The Production Process

Frankincense has been a highly valued commodity for millennia, dating back to ancient Egypt, Assyria, and more. The precious resin comprises the oldest global supply chain.

The essential oil comes from the resin of the frankincense tree. Harvesters typically make shallow cuts in the bark, from which resin seeps out. The resin is left for two weeks to crystallize, which are then scraped off the tree. This process repeats over multiple weeks throughout the harvesting season. Resin tears are carefully cleaned and organized by size and color by harvesters before distillation.

Impact Stories: Environmental Stewardship

We’re proud to support research and sustainability initiatives protecting frankincense trees through our Responsible Frankincense Strategy (RFS). Many frankincense trees have been overharvested, which means the trees have too many cuts or the cuts are too deep. As part of RFS, we’ve partnered with local universities in these sourcing countries and international organizations to carry out two initiatives.

First, traceability systems have been established to oversee harvesting and land management. Traceability includes identifying each harvested tree and monitoring its health status by evaluating depth and frequency of cuts.

In Ethiopia, overharvesting isn’t the primary threat to the longevity of frankincense trees; land conversion is. The solution is to propagate frankincense seedlings and cuttings in protected environments.

In Oman, our sourcing partner runs the largest private frankincense nursery and plantation, with hundreds of trees ranging from four to eight years old and thousands of smaller trees now growing well. The research and initiatives we support ensure these trees and ecologies thrive and continue supporting communities and livelihoods.

Frankincense Essential Oil | doTERRA Behind the Bottle: Episode 10