Frankincense Oil
AKA “Olibanum, Boswellia Oil, Incense”
Oil
Ingredient Facts
Frankincense oil
AKA: Olibanum, Boswellia Oil
Oil · Emollient · EWG: 1
Plant-Derived
Emollient
Skin Conditioner
Clean
Frankincense Oil is a cosmetic ingredient. Rated low hazard by EWG.
Family
Burseraceae (Frankincense family)
Plant Part
Resin
Form
Oil
See origin →
Functions
Emollient
Fills in the tiny cracks between skin cells to make everything feel smooth and soft. The "silky finish" ingredient.
Skin Conditioning
A catch-all term for ingredients that improve how skin looks and feels — softer, smoother, more supple. The workhorse behind most moisturizers.
Anti-Inflammatory
Boosts Collagen
Wound Healing
Provides scent
Traditional Use
Frankincense resin has been one of the most valued substances in history, used in ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome for religious ceremonies, medicine, and skincare. It was prized by Cleopatra for its anti-aging and skin-regenerating properties and remains central to traditional Ayurvedic and Middle Eastern beauty practices.
Skin Types
●all-skin-types, gentle
Best For
Fine Lines
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Safe
Caution
Boswellia carterii (frankincense) oil
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Boswellia Carteri Frankincense Oil
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
Boswellia Sacra Frankincense Oil
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
Frankincense Oil
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
Protective potential of frankincense essential oil and its loaded solid lipid nanoparticles against UVB-induced photodamage in rats via MAPK and PI3K/
Kotb EA, El-Shiekh RA, Abd-Elsalam WH, El Sayed NSED, El Tanbouly N et al.
PloS one, 2023
Verified Jun 2026
Data: CosIng · EWG · CIR