White sage, natural resins, incense sticks, woods and Amerindian plants for purification rituals
The different types of frankincense
The main countries producing frankincense (olibanum), the resin of trees of the genus Boswellia
There are many varieties of trees that produce frankincense resin. These are always trees of the Boswellia genus, of the Burseraceae family.
The continent that produces and exports the most is Africa, led by Somalia. But it is also found in Ethiopia, Kenya, Eritrea, Sudan, Nigeria and Burkina Faso. The rest comes from the Sultanate of Oman, Yemen, the island of Socotra, or India.
The resin is widely used in the pharmaceutical and perfume industries. A small part is used as incense for burning, mainly in churches (Catholic, Orthodox...) or by individuals, to enjoy its fragrance or for ceremonies of purification, protection, etc.
The best known varieties and their origin
Boswellia sacra, mainly from the Sultanate of Oman but also from Somalia
Boswellia carterii, mainly from Somalia but also from Yemen
Boswellia papyrifera, Ethiopia, Eritrea and Sudan
Boswellia Serrata, from India
Other lesser known varieties, some of which are remarkable
Boswellia neglecta, from Kenya or Ogaden, the part of Ethiopia with Somali culture
Boswellia frereana, Somalia, an atypical resin, very different from other varieties, even visually it is very different. It is also the best olibanum for chewing.
Boswellia rivae, from Ethiopia (Ogaden)
Boswellia socotrana, as its name suggests, originates from Socotra (the Yemeni island located in the south-east of the country, at the entrance to the Gulf of Aden, off the tip of the Somali Puntland)
Boswellia amero, also native to the island of Socotra
Boswellia dalzielii, a beautiful and little known resin from Nigeria or Burkina Faso
Frankincense Oman Royal Hojari | Frankincense Oman Superior Hojari | Frankincense Oman Red Hojari | Frankincense Oman Ashabi |
Frankincense Oman Small Tears |
Frankincense Somalia Beeyo 1st Choice |
Frankincense Somalia Beeyo Hybrid |
Frankincense Somalia Maydi |
Frankincense Somalia Sanaag |
Somali "Honey" Frankincense |
Ethiopian Frankincense First Choice |
Ethiopian Frankincense Mirafur |
Ethiopian Frankincense Beeyo Madow |
Eritrean Olibanum First Choice |
Frankincense from Sudan |
Harrabi Frankincense from Nigeria |
Dakkara Frankincense from Kenya |
Sallakhi Frankincense from India |