Guide to essential oils

Essential oil of Organic Black frankincense

Harmonising and energising, Organic Black frankincense essential oil from Kenya is traditionally used to accompany meditation and promote spiritual elevation. Also known as Frankincense neglecta or Olibanum neglecta, this relaxing and soothing essential oil is reputed to promote serenity and hope, and help restore inner peace. Calming, Black frankincense essential oil is also used to relieve irritated and congested respiratory tracts.

How to use

  • Apply to the skin and massage (always diluted in a carrier oil).

    Apply to the skin and massage (always diluted in a carrier oil).

    Suitable

  • Cosmetic active ingredient

    Cosmetic active ingredient

    Suitable

  • Diffusion

    Diffusion

    Suitable

  • Olfactory use

    Olfactory use

    Suitable

  • Food grade

  • Aromatherapy bath

    Aromatherapy bath

    Appropriate

Features

Properties and uses

Precautions

Find out more

Features

Production process

Complete steam distillation

Part of the plant used

Resin

Botanical name

Boswellia neglecta

Warning

The properties, information and methods of use below are quotes from reference books or websites on aromatherapy, hydrolatherapy and phytotherapy. This general information is provided for informative purposes only and in no way constitutes medical guidance. Under no circumstances can this information be used as a substitute for a medical diagnosis, consultation or follow-up, nor can it incur our liability. We recommend that you consult the guide to essential oils before using them, so that you are aware of any precautions that need to be taken. If in doubt, consult a doctor before using essential oils.

Properties and uses

Black frankincense essential oil is traditionally used for:

Health

Wellness

Beauty

Find out more

Properties

Black frankincense essential oil is renowned for the following health benefits:

  • Broad-spectrum antimicrobial

  • Contains compounds with anti-inflammatory properties (alpha-pinene)

  • Soothing, helps relieve irritated or congested respiratory tracts

Uses

Congested, irritated respiratory tract

In practice

Respiratory health: atmospheric diffusion

Respiratory comfort: Mix in your oil blend. Massage or rub your blend into the chest and upper back.

Precautions

  • Essential oils are sensitive to UV radiation and to the gradual evaporation of their constituents. It is therefore essential to store your essential oils in a sealed glass or aluminium bottle at a temperature between 5°C and 30°C.

  • Do not use during pregnancy, while breastfeeding or on children under the age of 3.

  • Irritating to the skin in its undiluted state; always use well diluted on the skin. Use with caution, especially on sensitive or allergic skin.

  • Keep out of reach of children.

  • Some natural compounds in this essential oil may present an allergy risk for sensitive individuals when the oil is incorporated into a cosmetic composition (in accordance with the 7th Amendment to the European Cosmetics Directive (2003/15/EC)): limonene, linaloll.

  • As a general rule, always perform a patch test of your mixture in the crease of your elbow at least 48 hours before use.

  • Dangerous. Observe safety precautions.

  • Danger. Flammable liquid and vapours. Causes skin irritation. May cause skin allergy. May be fatal if swallowed and enters the respiratory tract (if accidentally swallowed, do not induce vomiting). Very toxic to aquatic life with long-lasting effects (in the event of a large spill into a waterway).

Find out more

The Boswellia genus, part of the Burseraceae family, includes around thirty species, most of which originate in the arid regions of Africa, but are also found in the Middle East and Asia. They are distinguished from each other by their composition, which varies according to geographical origin, climate and growing conditions.

Equivalents

Essential Oils

1 ml = approximately 35 drops (with our Aroma-Zone dropper caps)

Carrier oils

1 pump (Aroma-Zone aluminium pump) = approx. 0.15 ml

Mass / Volume conversion (for a liquid)

Mass (g) = Density x Volume (ml) at 20°C

Further information

1 full teaspoon = between 3 and 4.5 ml

1 full tablespoon = between 7.5 and 10 ml


However, these spoon ratios depend on a number of factors (e.g. viscosity of the liquid, temperature, depth and size of the spoon, rheological behaviour of the liquid), and we strongly advise you to use precise measuring equipment, such as graduated test tubes, graduated pipettes, and precision scales.

Aromatherapy recipes from the bibliography

EO = Essential Oil VO = Carrier Oil or Macerated Oil

Anxiety and stress (F. Couic Marinier)

Health & wellbeing

  • 3 drops of Frankincense (Boswellia Carterii) essential oil

  • 5 ml of carrier oil

Massage into the solar plexus.

Aroma-Zone note You can replace Frankincense essential oil with Black frankincense essential oil.

Bibliography

1

Hussain, H., Al-Harrasi, A. & Green, I. R.

doi: 10.1016/B978-0-12-416641-7.00048-1.

2

Cao, B. et al. Seeing the Unseen of the Combination of Two Natural Resins.

Molecules 24, 3076 (2019).

3

Awoke, S., Dagne, E. & Joshi, R. K. Analysis of major components.

by GC-MS.

4

Baser, K. H. C., Demirci, B., Dekebo, A. & Dagne, E.

Flavour and Fragrance Journal. J. 18, 153–156 (2003).

5

Van Vuuren, S. F., Kamatou, G. P. P. & Viljoen, A. M.

South African Journal of Botany 76, 686–691 (2010).

6

Han, X., Rodriguez, D. & Parker, T. L. Biological activities of frankincense essential oil in human dermal fibroblasts.

Biochimie Open 4, 31–35 (2017).

7

Mikhaeil, B. R., Maatooq, G. T., Badria, F. A. & Amer, M. M. A. Chemistry and Immunomodulatory Activity of Frankincense Oil.

Zeitschrift für Naturforschung C 58, 230–238 (2003).

8

Almeida-da-Silva, C. L. C. et al.

Effects of Frankincense Compounds.

9

Chen, Y. et al. Composition and potential anticancer activities of essential oils obtained from myrrh and frankincense.

Oncology Letters 6, 1140–1146 (2013).

10

Hido, A., Tolera, M., Lemma, B. & Evangelista, P. H.

Forestry 39, 620–634 (2020).

11

Le guide terre vivante des huiles essentielles by Françoise Couic Marinier

Dr. Anthony Touboul