Frankincense Occulta Essential Oil

Frankincense occulta essential oil has an aroma that is unique among the Frankincense family. With unusual sweet notes that are not found in any of the other Frankincense types It lacks the expected Alpha Pinene of the rest of the Frankincense family. My helper, Jake, points out pink lemonade notes while I smell pink Grapefruit. Either way, this is a very unusual Frankincense essential oil!

I am often asked which is the strongest-smelling Frankincense type. Frankincense Occulta essential oil rivals Frankincense Frereana essential oil in strength of aroma.

The unique and distinct aroma of Frankincense Occulta essential oil makes it a must-have for anyone who appreciates the diversity and magic of Frankincense resins and essential oils.

Frankincense Occulta-Boswellia occulta

Frankincense Occulta is a new Frankincense species. It was officially discovered in 2019 in the Ceel Ufeyn area of northern Somalia/Somaliland.

Frankincense Occulta is a very different tree from its neighbours the Frankincense carterii trees. Historically, Frankincense Occulta resin has always been mixed in with the local Frankincense Carterii and is considered by locals to be the same tree. The name "Occulta " comes from the Latin Occultus, meaning "Hidden. Though this species has been present as long as any other Frankincense species and is an important commercial crop locally, it remained hidden from the view of botanists till recently. Hence the name-Occulta.

Its simple leaves look different from most other Frankincense species, and Frankincense Occulta oleoresin has a chemical composition that is very different from that of all other known Frankincense species.

This difference is most evident in the aroma and taste of Frankincense Occulta. Unlike most other Frankincense essential oils that contain a predominance of alpha-Pinene, (An aroma we are familiar with in all Pine trees),  B. Occulta essential oil leads with a high percentage of methyl ethers, in particular, 1-methoxydecane and 1-methoxyoctane which is really unusual and unexpected from a Frankincense type. 

For more information on this unusual species see the following links-
https://aromaticplant.org/assets/26725-21295-1-pb.pdf
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/1934578X19866307

Dan

Materials: Boswellia occulta, Frankincense Occulta essential oil.