Frankincense has been treasured for thousands of years - so precious it was once gifted alongside gold. Today it's loved for two things above all: its warm, grounding scent, and its long-standing place in natural skincare. If you're wondering what frankincense oil is good for and how to use it, here's our honest, practical guide.
A quick note first: we write about frankincense as an aromatherapy and skincare oil - a beautiful scent and a lovely addition to a natural beauty routine - not as a medicine. Essential oils aren't a treatment for any health condition, and nothing here is medical advice.
What is frankincense essential oil?
Frankincense essential oil is steam-distilled from the resin of the Boswellia tree, which grows in the dry, mountainous regions of India, Africa and the Middle East. The name comes from the Old French franc encens - "high-quality incense" - and it's been burned and worn for its fragrance for millennia.
The most common variety is Boswellia carterii, prized for its balanced, classic frankincense scent. Others include Boswellia sacra (the most revered, from Oman) and Boswellia serrata (Indian frankincense). The oil's character comes largely from natural terpenes such as alpha-pinene and limonene, which give it that warm, resinous, slightly citrus-fresh quality.
What does frankincense smell like?
Frankincense has a warm, woody, resinous scent with a subtle spice and a soft citrus lift. It reads as grounding and a little sacred - the kind of aroma that makes a space feel calm and considered. It sits in the warm and woody scent family and blends beautifully with citrus, florals and other woods. If you've ever smelled incense in an old church, that resinous warmth is frankincense.
Frankincense oil for skin
Alongside its scent, skincare is what frankincense is best loved for - it's a classic ingredient in natural beauty routines, valued for how it makes skin look and feel. Used properly (always well diluted), many people enjoy it as part of a simple facial-oil ritual.
People reach for frankincense in skincare to:
- help skin look smooth and radiant
- support the look of firmer, more even-toned skin
- soften the appearance of fine lines
- bring a calm, spa-like feeling to a skincare routine
How to use it on your face: frankincense is potent, so always dilute. Add 1–2 drops to a tablespoon of a facial carrier oil such as jojoba, rosehip or sweet almond, or a drop into your usual moisturiser, and apply to clean skin. Patch-test on your inner arm first, and keep it away from the eyes. If you have very sensitive or reactive skin, go gently.
Uses for frankincense oil around the home
1. Diffuse it for a grounding, calming atmosphere
The simplest way to enjoy frankincense is in a diffuser. Its warm, resinous scent is wonderful for slowing down - lovely in the evening, or any time you want a room to feel calm and settled. Add 3–5 drops to your ultrasonic diffuser and let it fill the space.
2. For meditation, yoga and quiet moments
Frankincense has been used in reflective and spiritual practice for centuries, and it's still one of the loveliest scents for it. Diffuse it while you meditate, journal, stretch or simply sit with a cup of tea - that grounding aroma helps set a peaceful, unhurried mood.
3. A warm, cosy evening scent
As the weather cools, frankincense comes into its own. Its resinous warmth pairs beautifully with orange or cedarwood for a scent that feels like candlelight and calm - perfect for winter evenings at home.
4. A calming bedtime wind-down
Many people love a grounding scent as part of an evening routine. Diffuse frankincense - lovely blended with a little lavender - in the half-hour before bed to help the room feel calm and restful as you unwind.
What does frankincense blend well with?
Frankincense is a wonderfully versatile base note that pairs with all sorts of oils:
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For a calm, grounding blend: lavender, cedarwood, sandalwood
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For a warm, uplifting blend: sweet orange, bergamot, lemon
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For a classic, resinous blend: myrrh (the timeless pairing), cedarwood
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For a skincare facial-oil blend: rosehip carrier with a drop of frankincense and a little geranium
For ready-made ideas, our guide to DIY essential oil blends has 15 diffuser recipes to try.
How to use frankincense essential oil
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Diffuser: 3–5 drops in an ultrasonic diffuser, in a well-ventilated room.
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Facial oil: 1–2 drops in a tablespoon of jojoba or rosehip carrier oil; patch-test first.
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Inhalation: a drop on a tissue for a grounding moment when you need to slow down.
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In the bath: 4–6 drops mixed into a tablespoon of carrier oil first (so it disperses), then added to warm water.
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Pulse points: well diluted, dab a little on your wrists as a natural, warm scent.
What's a good carrier oil for frankincense?
For skin use, the most popular carriers are jojoba (light, and lovely on the face), rosehip (a beauty favourite), sweet almond (a good all-rounder) and fractionated coconut (light and quick to absorb). For everyday dilution, aim for roughly 2–3% - about 12–18 drops of essential oil per 30ml of carrier - and 1% or so for facial use.
Frankincense oil safety
Frankincense is one of the gentler oils, but please still use it sensibly:
- Never swallow essential oils.
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Always dilute before applying to skin, and patch-test first.
- Keep away from the eyes.
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Pregnancy and breastfeeding: check with your midwife or doctor first.
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Children: use lower dilutions and extra care, and check with a professional.
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Pets: many oils can be harmful to cats and dogs - if you diffuse, make sure pets can leave the room, and never apply to them.
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Ventilate: diffuse in a well-aired room rather than continuously.
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Quality: use 100% pure essential oil from a source you trust - not "fragrance" or "perfume" oil, if aromatherapy is your goal.
Choosing a quality frankincense oil
Frankincense is one of the more precious oils, so quality really shows. Look for 100% pure essential oil from a source you trust. Our pure essential oils are single, unadulterated oils, made and bottled here in Wellington.
Bring home that warm, grounding scent
Warm, resinous and calming, frankincense is one of the most timeless oils you can own - beautiful in the diffuser, lovely in a natural skincare ritual, and a rich base note in all sorts of blends.
Browse our pure essential oils to add frankincense to your shelf, and pair it with one of our ultrasonic diffusers to fill your home with that warm, grounding scent.
This article is for general information about using frankincense as an aromatherapy and skincare oil. It isn't medical advice, and essential oils aren't a treatment for any health condition. If you're pregnant, breastfeeding, have a skin or health condition, or are using oils around children or pets, please check with a qualified professional first.
