Omani Frankincense

9,00 €

Omani Olibanum is one of the most appreciated resins. It is extracted from the Boswellia sacra tree, which grows in the mountains of the Sultanate of Oman and the Red Sea region.

Oman incense has been valued for thousands of years for its aromatic, medicinal, purifying and harmonizing properties, which is why it is commonly used for meditation, prayer and cleansing rituals.

It is valued for its purifying and balancing properties, it helps eliminate negative energies and create an atmosphere of tranquility and harmony. It also stimulates intuition and spiritual connection.

 

Scientific Name: Boswellia sacra.

Origin: Oman.

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Omani frankincense

The finest and most expensive frankincense in the world is the so-called “Oman frankincense” which is obtained from the Boswellia Sacra species. The ancient Egyptians called this resin the “sweat of the gods.”

The robust Boswellia sacra tree thrives in the inhospitable terrain of Dhofar province in southern Oman.

The most valuable grade of frankincense resin is known as Hojari, it comes from a narrow belt with a dry microclimate in the Dhofar Mountains; The frankincense trade flourished in this region for many centuries, it was one of the most important commercial activities in the ancient and medieval world.

The white incense (sap) “tears” that come from Jabal Samhan or Hasik are the best.

From Oman, caravans with thousands of camels and slaves loaded with aromatic resins set out on a tough 2,000-kilometer journey through the Arabian Desert, bound for the Egyptian, Babylonian, Greek and Roman empires; It was exported to places as far away as China (Incense Route).

Omanis perfume their homes with frankincense to repel mosquitoes, and burning it after a meal is considered a sign of hospitality. It is also used in medicines and teas to promote healthy digestion and skin.

Omani Harvest

Virtually all Omani frankincense is harvested from Boswellia sacra trees that grow wild in the scorching Dhofar desert and are owned by local tribes.

Harvesting begins every April, as rising temperatures make the sap flow more easily. Workers cut small incisions in the bark, causing it to exude a milky white sap that drips down the tree like candle wax.

The sap is left standing for 10 days to solidify into a gum. After the “tears” are scraped off, the farmers cut the same place again. They repeat this process several times, and the final fall harvest is the one that produces the palest and most valuable resin. After about five years, the process is interrupted and the tree is not harvested again for another five years.

However, in recent times, Oman’s prized Boswellia sacra trees have been threatened by increasing demand.

According to botanist Joshua Eslamieh, author of “Boswellia Cultivation: Sacred Frankincense Trees,” “Renewed interest in frankincense in the international market has increased stress on the Boswellia’s natural habitat.” Boswellia sacra is listed on the International Red List of Endangered Species under the “Near Threatened” category.

Scientists point to drought, overgrazing, insect attacks and illicit harvesting by armed Somali smugglers as reasons for the resin’s decline, prompting the Sultan of Oman to employ armed guards to protect the valleys. , in recent years.

However, according to Oman Environmental Society project manager Dr Mohsin Al Amri, unsustainable harvesting is the biggest threat to the plant.

“Part-time workers with less experience are damaging trees by not using traditional harvesting techniques,” he said. “Smaller, immature trees are being harvested and mature trees are being over-harvested to meet growing demand.”

Omani Frankincense