This or That: Frankincense Carteri vs CO2

When you think of the most precious elements, odds are you may think of gold or diamonds. If you were to go back in time to Ancient Israel or Asia, many people would consider Frankincense to be more precious than gold. In today's aromatherapy world, Frankincense Essential Oil is still worth its weight in gold.

Frankincense Essential Oil has been treasured for centuries, and is known to have a variety of powerful healing benefits. From calming the mind and promoting emotional balance, to relieving stress and reducing inflammation — it's easy to see why Frankincense is one of the most prized oils in aromatherapy.* It's rich, woody aroma offers both psychological and physical support that make it highly sought-after around the world.* In this blog post, we will discuss more about its many uses as well as its therapeutic properties.

What is Frankincense? Why has Frankincense been used for thousands of years?

Frankincense is made up of two words: the old French word frank (free, pure, or abundant), and the Latin word incensum (to smoke). Frankincense Essential Oil derives from the gummy sap that oozes from the cut bark of a Boswellia tree. Once the sap hardens into a resin, it can be scraped off and steam-distilled into essential oil form. Since the Boswellia tree is a desert tree, it — and the Frankincense it makes — is most commonly found in areas of northeast Africa and the Arabian peninsula.

Boswellia trees begin producing resin after 8 to 10 years; at that point, you can make incisions in the bark to extract the resin. There are several different species of Boswellia trees, and each of these species produce slightly different iterations of Frankincense essential oils.

Frankincense has been used for thousands of years throughout the Middle East in both homes and religious places of worship. It was thought to cleanse the environment, dispel evil spirits, protect against infection, and promote spirituality and prayer. Frankincense was also used by Muslims for attracting angels and repelling evil forces and is burned in Mosques. In fact, Frankincense has been burned in religious ceremonies of various faiths over the centuries.

It is protective, purifying, and grounding all at the same time which is why it is wonderful for meditation and sacred ceremonies.* On the physical level frankincense essential oil is very effective for headaches when combined with Palo Santo and Peppermint Essential Oils.* It is a great respiratory aid and also effective for skin and scarring.*

What are the differences between all the Frankincense species you typically hear about?

You typically will hear of 4 species within the Boswellia family: frereana, sacra, serrata, and carteri. Frankincense Frereana has the highest amount of α-thujene making it great for reducing inflammation, alleviating symptoms of allergies, and soothing pain.* Frankincense Sacra has the highest amount of α-pinene making it great for enhancing sleep, reducing inflammation, and neutralizing free radicals.* Frankincense Serrata is similar to Frankincense Frereana, but has other components that make it perfect for promoting a meditative atmosphere, clearing airways, and reducing inflammation.* Last, but not least, is Frankincense Carteri. This species of Boswellia is dominated by α-pinene and contains significant amounts of α-thujene and limonene making it perfect for reducing pain and inflammation, protecting against environmental threats, and alleviating stress.*

Each Frankincense oil that Amrita offers is of exceptional quality, possessing unique features and characteristics distinct from one another. Sometimes you will see Frankincense Carteri and Frankincense Carteri CO₂. What is the difference? In CO₂ extraction, Frankincense resin is combined with supercritical CO₂ which draws out the oil using little to no heat. The CO ₂ is then completely removed and the oil is collected. This creates a Frankincense Oil with heavier plant molecules like incensyl acetate and incensole. These two molecules are commonly also in the steam distilled oil, just in lower concentration levels.

From a traditional view, one might choose one of Amrita’s steam distilled Frankincense Essential Oils, particularly for aromatherapy purposes. However, Amrita’s Frankincense CO₂ Oil offers the natural botanical perfumer a more complete aromatic profile with more complex bottom notes than the steam distilled Frankincense oils. The steam distilled version of Boswellia carterii is an elegant, gentle essential oil with comparable properties as the CO₂ extracted version. Both are considered precious for spiritual and meditative purposes such as enhancing deep meditation, working to balance emotions, and lessening feelings of loneliness, frailty, and grief.*

How would you use Frankincense Carteri?

Discover the benefits of Frankincense Carteri Essential Oil, a deeply soothing and consciousness-expanding oil. With its warm, woody, sweet, and spicy aroma, Frankincense has been a staple in religious ceremonies for centuries to promote meditation and prayer.* Not only does this miraculous oil relieve anxiety and stress but it also aides in attaining a meditative state by slowing the breath rate.*

Frankincense is also an excellent tool to combat digestive issues by aiding in the secretion of digestive juices to help relieve gas and indigestion while promoting healthy cells for pain relief.* With its powerful expectorant capabilities, this oil is perfect for respiratory issues such as colds, flu and asthma, as well as lung issues, as it relieves bronchitis and congestion.*

Inhaling or absorbing Frankincense oil through your skin is the easiest way to reap its benefits in combination with a carrier oil, such as Jojoba Oil or Hazelnut Oil. By transmitting messages to the limbic system of the brain, you'll notice a positive influence on your nervous system.*

• Overall Topical Application: 2% dilution
  • Looking for a versatile topical application? Dilute Frankincense Carteri up to 2% in Jojoba or Hazelnut Carrier Oil and enjoy its many benefits. Apply to affected areas for relief from respiratory congestion and sinus inflammation, easing of asthma symptoms, promotion of overall uterus health and a decrease in heavy menstrual bleeding.*
  • Frankincense Carteri also aids the nervous system by lessening distracted thoughts, reducing brain fog and supporting inspiration and creativity.* You can also use it for restoring youthful skin, as well as promoting healing of scars and wounds.* Give it a try and experience the wonders of this all-around natural solution. Proper dilution for this method is 2% (no more than 10 drops per tablespoon of carrier oil).
  • Note: this application is good for both Frankincense Carteri and Frankincense CO₂.

• Whole Body Massage Application: up to 2% dilution
  • Looking for a massage that does it all? Try using Frankincense Carteri essential oil diluted in Jojoba or Hazelnut Carrier Oil for a variety of therapeutic benefits. This versatile massage oil promotes overall uterine health and decreases heavy menstrual bleeding.* It also helps reduce distracted thoughts and supports inspiration and creativity.* Plus, it's perfect for restoring youthful skin, decreasing fine lines and wrinkles, and even promoting healing of scars and wounds.* Proper dilution for this method is up to 2% (no more than 10 drops per tablespoon of carrier oil).
  • Note: this application is only good for Frankincense Carteri.

• Diffusion / Inhalation Application: add a few drops to a Nebulizer or Nasal Inhaler
  • One effective and convenient way to use Frankincense Carteri is through diffusion or inhalation. By adding a few drops to a nebulizer or nasal inhaler, you can experience a range of benefits for your respiratory and nervous systems. Say goodbye to respiratory congestion, sinus inflammation, and asthma symptoms. And if you struggle with distracted or unfocused thoughts, or experience bouts of mental fog, Frankincense Carteri can help. By inhaling its calming and clarifying properties, you can reduce distractions and boost inspiration and creativity. Simply add a few drops to your nebulizer, inhaler, or diffuser and feel free to experiment by blending with other essential oils. Its elegant aroma finds itself right at home complementing a diverse variety of others.
  • Note: this application is good for both Frankincense Carteri and Frankincense CO₂.

What other essential oils to blend with Frankincense Carteri?

Frankincense is a wonderful essential oil with a versatile aroma that blends well with citrus oils, such as Lime and Neroli, as well as other oils like Black Spruce, Elemi, and Palo Santo. To enjoy its benefits, try these DIY diffuser/inhaler recipes. For focus and concentration, blend Frankincense with Lime and Peppermint.* To relax and unwind, mix Frankincense with Myrrh and Jasmine.* For a spicy and invigorating experience, try combining Cinnamon Leaf, Frankincense, and Ginger.*

Here are a few DIY recipes to try in for diffuser / inhaler:

Final Thoughts from the Amrita Experts

Frankincense Carteri has been used for centuries as part of various traditions in aromatherapy, both for its medicinal and spiritual purposes. It is one of the most beloved essential oils that is said to have calming effects on anxiety and depression, helping with clarity of thought while enhancing one's relaxation level.* Hopefully, you were able to learn the distinct characteristics of Frankincense Carteri Oil to gain a better understanding of the healing it provides. Frankincense is truly a complement to any essential oil collection. By using Frankincense, you will be transformed!

Happy Blending!

* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.