For many years now I have had an obsession with the essential oil of Frankincense. I just love the woody aroma that suits both men and women, it makes it a really versatile oil, unlike the more flowery aromatherapy oils available.
Also known as 'olibanum', frankincense oil comes from the sap of the Boswellia trees that grow in Arabian regions and Africa. The milky sap is extracted from the bark of the tree and then left to have contact with the air which allows it to harden into a resin. The essential oil is then extracted from the resin by steam distillation.
There are so many great properties of the oil, but for me the fact it helps to ground and calm you and focus the mind, with an uplifting quality makes it so great. Perfect before an important meeting or exam, or just when you are feeling a bit 'wobbly'. Not forgetting how helpful frankincense is for joint and muscle pains as it is a natural anti-inflammatory.
One of the best stories I ever heard for frankincense is that the Egyptians used to wrap the mummies in the oil to help to preserve the skin- thus the anti- aging benefits, with regenerating properties, it's the perfect addition to facial products, well those mummies were preserved pretty well! ...Handy hints- dot a drop on your pulse points if you have an important meeting, dot a couple of drops in your palm and take three deep long, slow breaths to help calm and ground you.
Yes I love it so much you will find it in my de-stressing massage oil blend and anti-age facial oil in my massage treatments.