Frankincense Frereana Essential Oil

Frankincense Frereana essential oil is sweet, bold, smooth, brisk and bursting with character, Boswellia frereana is named the king of Frankincense for good reason.

Frequently asked questions

Some questions and answers are automatically generated.

How does this scent compare to other frankinscenses?
Reviewers describe Frankincense Frereana as bright, citrus, clean, and fresh with sparkling qualities. Several note it has more layered complexity than typical frereana oils, with detectable honey, spice, and warm amber notes—a marked difference from the powdery or harsh quality of oils made from lower-grade resin.
Is the scent intense or subtle?
The oil is notably intense and fragrant. Reviewers consistently describe it as exceptionally fragrant, crisp, and invigorating, with one noting it's an "intense scent that smells delicious." It's strong enough to open up a room and be stimulating without being overpowering.
How natural does it smell?
Multiple reviewers praise how naturally the oil smells compared to mainstream frankincense oils. They note it doesn't smell overloaded or harshly concentrated like typical producers' oils, and instead captures a pure, natural aromatic connection to the resin itself.
What are the main scent notes?
According to the product description, the oil features a warm amber scent highlighted by honey, spice, and light musk notes, with subtle lemon and almost animalic musk undertones. Reviewers consistently confirm these warm, sweet, woody amber characteristics with citrus brightness.
Is this a good portable alternative to burning the resin?
Yes. One reviewer who owns both the oil and raw resin notes the oil captures a very similar profile to burning the actual frereana resin, making it ideal for when carrying a heater isn't practical—allowing them to experience the frankincense anywhere.
Does the oil have a grounding or uplifting effect?
Reviewers describe it as both grounding and uplifting. Some note it's soothing and calming, while others find it crisp, stimulating, and invigorating—suggesting it can work as both a centering and energizing scent depending on context.
What makes this oil higher quality than typical options?
The product is distilled from the two highest grades of Frereana resin chunks, whereas most producers use the lowest grades, powder, and dust. A reviewer who has tested other frereana oils confirms the superior resin quality is evident in the scent, calling it "the best Maydi distillation" they've encountered on the market.
Is this a rare or hard-to-find frankincense?
Yes. Frankincense Frereana is described as the least known frankincense type in the Western world, though highly prized in Arabia and Africa where it's called Maydi and considered the king of frankincenses. One reviewer notes it's "so hard to find," making availability a notable aspect of its appeal.
Frankincense Frereana trees grow on the steep rock faces of the Somali Puntland mountains. Defying gravity, they develop foothold trunk "anchors that embrace the sheer rock surfaces and present numerous challenges to the harvesters. Not only is access to each tree challenging, but the harvesters contend with the danger of injury from falls and snake bites each time they tap, and each time they collect the resin from the tree.

Frankincense frereana essential oil acts as a fixative and heart-note in perfume compositions anchoring more fleeting and volatile scents and contributes a unique twist to incense blends.

Distilled in-house May 21, 2020 from the 2 highest grades of Frankincense frereana, this essential oil has a Bold, sensuous, sweet, warm, woody Amber scent highlighted lemon, honey, spice and almost animalic musk notes. Usually, distillers process the lowest and bottom of the bag, powder and dust), grades of Boswellia frereana into essential oil. I believe using grade #1 and #2 chunks of resin has produced a finer product.

MAYDI-BOSWELLIA FREREANA-FRANKINCENSE FREREANA-SOMALIA

Perhaps the least known Frankincense type in the Western world, but one of the most prized in Arabia and Africa, Boswellia Frereana is Native to the Somali Puntland and the Somaliland highlands, it is their pride and joy. In Somalia and neighbouring countries, it is called Maydi and considered the King of Frankincenses. The fragrance of Boswellia frereana is a warm Amber highlighted by honey, spice and light musk notes.

Though Boswellia frereana has a very different chemical composition than other types of Frankincense and contains no Boswellic acids, it is used traditionally as medicine and has been shown in laboratory studies to be anti-inflammatory and able to kill the H. Pylori bacteria that causes gastric ulcers. It is traditionally used to help alleviate Arthritic pain and support healthy joints.

Boswellia Frereana resin is widely used as a high-end chewing gum for oral care, peptic ulcers, and is considered antiseptic and anti-inflammatory for both the gastrointestinal and the urinary tract. It is believed that the body benefits from these therapeutic actions through chewing the raw resin. Maydi has been used in anti-ageing and rejuvenative cosmetic preparations and is believed to reduce wrinkles and add elasticity to mature skin.

Collected by traditional harvester clans and families in the mountains of the Somali Puntland, from often precarious cliff growing trees. It is brought down to the coastal plain on the backs of donkeys to be sorted, packaged and sold. It is often bought up quickly by the Coptic church as their signature incense, and traders from across the Red Sea who sell most of their product to Saudia Arabia and other Arabian countries where it is in great demand as a high end chewing gum and incense material. Frankincense Frereana is so much in demand in these countries that the harvest is often pre-purchased a year in advance to guarantee supply.

For more information about Frankincense Frereana, instructions and recipes for using it in healing oils, salves and cremes, please visit my website at http://apothecarysgarden.com

Dan

Materials: Frankincense Frereana, Maydi, Boswellia frereana.


Customer Reviews

Based on 52 reviews
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Rebecca Deragon (Easthampton, US)
Wonderful quality! Thank you for the quick

Wonderful quality! Thank you for the quick shipping!

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Joel Innes (Seattle, US)
All Hail the King

Bright, citrus, clean, fresh. There’s a reason it’s the king of frankincense. Sparkling and beautiful. It’s a shame it’s so hard to find.

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Sarah (Seattle, US)
Always the best

Lovely!!!

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Michelle Balistreri (Ashburn, US)
Great quality, thank you. O.

Great quality, thank you. O.

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Etsy customer

Great quality, thank you. O.

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Jennie Mcdermott (Ashburn, US)
I'm so glad I found this great shop. I kne...

I'm so glad I found this great shop. I knew nothing about frankincense, but Dan's knowledge and wealth of information has changed that. The product quality and service is great!

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Sally Parker (Ashburn, US)
Another wonderful EO for my collection

Another wonderful EO for my collection

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Etsy customer

Another wonderful EO for my collection

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Derrick J. Miller
Thank you so much!

Thank you so much!

E
Etsy customer

Thank you so much!

Reviews in Other Languages

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Etsy customer

Frankincense Frereana Essential Oil

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Tatyana Keebler (Ashburn, US)
Аромат великолепный Так нравится что эти э...

Аромат великолепный
Так нравится что эти эфирные масла так натурально пахнут, и не перегружены и не такие резкие концентрированные как у обычных производителей. Это настоящее магическое соединение человека с природой аромата в чистом виде.

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Etsy customer

Аромат великолепный
Так нравится что эти эфирные масла так натурально пахнут, и не перегружены и не такие резкие концентрированные как у обычных производителей. Это настоящее магическое соединение человека с природой аромата в чистом виде.