How to Use Frankincense Essential Oil on Skin: A Dilution Guide
Frankincense has scented the Arabian Peninsula for thousands of years. Its pale golden resin was traded along ancient incense routes and is still burned in homes across the region today. Distilled into an essential oil, it brings a warm, resinous note to face and body oils. Like every essential oil, it must be diluted. This guide explains how.
What is frankincense essential oil?
Frankincense essential oil is steam-distilled from the resin of the Boswellia tree, which grows in the dry lands of southern Arabia and the Horn of Africa. The resin forms as pale "tears" on the bark; distilled, it gives a clear, pale oil with a warm, resinous, slightly balsamic scent.
FAYNAN Frankincense Essential Oil is a single ingredient, with nothing added. It is a concentrate, made to be blended.
Why dilution matters
Essential oils are highly concentrated. Applied undiluted, they can irritate the skin. Blended into a carrier oil, they spread evenly and gently, and a single drop goes a long way. As the FDA notes, a plant origin does not by itself make an ingredient safe for the skin. For the basics, read Essential Oils and Carrier Oils.
How to dilute frankincense essential oil
| Use | Frankincense essential oil | Carrier oil |
|---|---|---|
| Face, in the evening | 1 drop | 1 teaspoon (5 mL) |
| Body, after bathing | 2–3 drops | 1 tablespoon (15 mL) |
| Room | A few drops | In a diffuser, following its instructions |
Start at the lower end, especially if your skin is sensitive. Mix well before each use.
An evening face oil with frankincense
- Blend: one drop of frankincense in a teaspoon of a light carrier, such as Pure Jojoba Oil or Pure Prickly Pear Seed Oil.
- Test: before first use, apply a little of the blend to a small area of skin and wait 24 hours.
- Warm: place two or three drops of the blend on your fingertips.
- Press: press gently onto clean skin of the face and neck, avoiding the eye area.
Skin feels soft and supple, and the warm, resinous scent makes it a quiet end to the day. For more evening ideas, read The Evening Face Oil Ritual and How to Choose a Face Oil.
A body oil with frankincense
After a shower or bath, blend two to three drops into a tablespoon of carrier oil and smooth it over damp skin. Pure Pomegranate Seed Oil feels comfortable on drier-feeling skin; jojoba feels lighter. Read How to Use Body Oil After the Shower.
Pairing frankincense with other scents
Frankincense sits well alongside warmer notes. One drop each of frankincense and Turmeric Essential Oil in a tablespoon of carrier oil makes a warm, earthy body blend. Keep the total number of essential oil drops within the guide above. Read How to Use Turmeric Essential Oil.
Who should take extra care
Frankincense essential oil is not for use on children. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have epilepsy or are under medical care, ask a healthcare professional before using it.
Safety at a glance
- Never apply undiluted to the skin.
- Keep away from the eyes and the inside of the nose and mouth.
- Test the diluted blend on a small area of skin before first use.
- Stop using it if irritation occurs.
- Store tightly closed, away from heat, light and open flame. Essential oils keep well when the bottle is closed promptly after use; see How to Store Natural Oils and Powders.
An old scent, in a modern ritual
A drop of frankincense carries a long history into a small, everyday moment. Find carriers to blend with in Pure Botanicals, or explore the Skin collection.