Biblical Frankincense- What you need to know

Frankincense, also known as olibanum, is the dried fragrant resin of the boswellia tree. The resin is harvested by making incisions in the bark of the tree, allowing the sap to ooze out and harden into golden tears.

There are several species of boswellia trees native to different regions including India, Arabia, and the Horn of Africa, each with a unique scent profile and chemical makeup. Because the Wise Men traveled bearing gifts from the East, we identify the Indian species Boswellia serrata as the incense most likely brought to worship the Baby Jesus. The Catholic church, however, sources most of its frankincense from Africa, so Scent of Solomon frankincense may smell slightly different to what you have experienced at mass.  

Where is frankincense mentioned in the Bible?
Frankincense is one of the most famous fragrant plants in scripture, as it makes multiple appearances throughout both the Old and New testaments. It is mentioned 55 separate times in total. Most famously, frankincense is one of the three gifts of the Magi, a gift that was more precious than gold at that time.

And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary His mother, and fell down, and worshipped Him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto Him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.
Matthew 2:11 KJV

In the days of the Old Testament, anointing with frankincense was an important ritual used to consecrate priests, kings, and sacred places or objects. This is demonstrated in the Book of Exodus in which God provides clear instructions to Moses on how to construct the tabernacle.

And the LORD said unto Moses, Take unto thee sweet spices, stacte, and onycha, and galbanum; these sweet spices with pure frankincense: of each shall there be a like weight: and thou shalt make it a perfume, a confection after the art of the apothecary, tempered together, pure and holy: and thou shalt beat some of it very small, and put of it before the testimony in the tabernacle of the congregation, where I will meet with thee: it shall be unto you most holy.
Exodus 30:34-36 KJV

What is the symbolism of frankincense?

Frankincense is a biblical metaphor representing the presence of God.  Burning frankincense is also seen as a symbol of worship and prayer . The fragrant rising smoke burned during prayer or ritualistic sacrifice shows the link between earth and heaven, connected by our prayers which are most fragrant unto God.

When a person or object was literally anointed with frankincense, they were also being figuratively shown to be anointed by the Holy Spirit, indicating that they were ordained by God for a noble purpose. Places that were anointed with fragrant oil were Holy places that served as a bridge between Heaven and Earth. This is why Jacob anoints the stone at Bethel, calling the place “House of God,” and why the Isrealites anointed the tabernacle, marking it as a place where God’s heavenly presence has come down to earth. 

These Old Testament rituals provide some clue as to why the Wise Men chose to bring frankincense as a gift to the newborn Jesus: it showed that they recognized Him both as the ultimate Anointed One to who would reconcile the connection between God and Humanity, and as a deity in His own right.  

What are its properties?
Frankincense is a traditional medicine that would have been employed for its therapeutic properties by biblical figures in ancient times, being made ample use of by the physicians of the Pharaoh and House of David. It was used to treat all sorts of wounds, sores, and skin conditions. It was included in recipes to treat everything from asthma to epilepsy. It may be the case that frankincense was used in medicine so liberally due to its Christian symbolic power.

Modern science has given us deeper insight into the medicinal properties of frankincense. We know that frankincense does indeed have analgesic (pain relieving), tranquilizing (stress relieving), skin healing, anti-bacterial, and strong anti-inflammatory effects. Its anti-inflammatory properties makes it an ideal remedy for such chronic inflammatory illnesses as ulcerative colitis, irritable bowel syndrome, bronchitis, sinusitis, and arthritis.

There are currently many ongoing pharmaceutical studies investigating the active inflammatory compounds of frankincense, most namely boswellic acid. Approximately 30% of Scent of Solomon’s pure Indian frankincense resin is composed of boswellic acid making it an ideal additive for therapeutic hot baths to treat sore muscles or aching joints.

Fun Fact
In antiquity, frankincense was an extremely highly valued substance for which traders would risk their lives to obtain. To ward off rivals, Arab incense merchants propagated a myth that the frankincense trees were guarded by multicolored winged serpents. The legend of these venomous reptilians who protected the precious resin served to scare off many adventurers who may have otherwise wished to travel into the desert seeking their fortune in tree sap.