Frankincense and myrrh have been traded for thousands of years, but their commercial story is far from historical. Today these resins are versatile raw materials feeding several modern industries, from fine fragrance to skincare to ceremonial goods. For manufacturers and brands, understanding the range of applications — and how the resins are used in each — helps clarify which species, grade, and form to buy.
This overview walks through the main uses of frankincense and myrrh across industries, with an eye to what each sector actually needs from the raw material.
Perfumery and fine fragrance
Perfumery is one of the most sophisticated users of both resins. Frankincense, usually as an essential oil or resinoid, contributes a fresh, slightly green, balsamic note that perfumers use to add lift and a sense of openness, particularly in incense, woody, and oriental accords. Myrrh works at the other end of a composition: a warm, resinous base note that also acts as a natural fixative, helping a fragrance hold together and last longer on the skin.
Because perfumers are buying for aroma, species selection is critical. Different Boswellia species yield oils with noticeably different scent profiles, so a fragrance house will often specify the exact material that matches its accord. Our guide to the types and grades of frankincense explains how those species differ.
Incense and home fragrance
Incense is the most direct use of the resin, and one of the oldest. Whole tears are burned on charcoal to release fragrance, a format still central to ceremonial and home use. At manufacturing scale, resin is also milled and incorporated into incense sticks, cones, and blends, frequently combining frankincense and myrrh with woods and other aromatics.
For this sector, aroma and cost generally matter more than the cosmetic appearance of individual tears, so mid grades and aromatic species such as papyrifera and carterii are common choices. Cleanliness still matters, since debris affects how cleanly a product burns.
Cosmetics and skincare
In cosmetics, frankincense and myrrh appear as extracts and essential oils within finished formulations — serums, balms, creams, and soaps — valued both for their aroma and for a long-standing reputation in the category. Myrrh also features in some oral-care products, drawing on its traditional use.
Formulators in this space care about consistency and documentation. Because these ingredients go into regulated finished products, buyers typically want reliable specifications and traceable, consistent supply rather than one-off lots. It is worth noting that these are used as cosmetic ingredients; responsible brands frame their benefits in terms of fragrance and sensory experience rather than making therapeutic claims.
Aromatherapy and wellness
In aromatherapy, the steam-distilled essential oils of frankincense and myrrh are valued for their grounding, contemplative aromas, and they feature widely in the wellness market in diffuser blends, massage oils, and similar products. Here, too, the responsible approach is to focus on the sensory and aromatic experience. Wellness brands should be careful to avoid medical claims and to comply with the regulations governing their market, framing these oils as part of a calming ritual rather than as treatments.
Religious and ceremonial goods
The ceremonial use of frankincense and myrrh is the thread that runs through their entire history, and it remains a significant market. Liturgical incense, often blending the two resins, is used across many traditions. Buyers in this sector tend to prioritise authentic aroma and reliable supply, since the material is central to established practice.
Traditional and supplement uses
Certain Boswellia species, notably Boswellia serrata, are the basis of standardised extracts used in the dietary supplement sector, where the resin's boswellic acid content is of particular interest. Buyers sourcing for this application focus on the specific species and standardised specifications rather than on appearance grade. As with cosmetics and wellness, claims in this area are tightly regulated and should be handled with appropriate care and compliance.
Choosing material by application
The thread connecting all of these industries is that the right material depends entirely on the use:
- Perfumery and aromatherapy: species-specific essential oils chosen for aroma.
- Incense: aromatic mid grades and milled resin where appearance matters less.
- Cosmetics: consistent, documented extracts and oils for finished formulations.
- Retail loose resin and ceremonial: clean, attractive, authentic grades.
- Supplements: specific species such as serrata with standardised specifications.
If you are matching a raw material to a particular product, our buyer's guide to sourcing wholesale frankincense covers how to translate these needs into a purchase specification.
For trade buyers: whatever your sector, we can help you select the right species, grade, and form for your formulation. Request a wholesale quote and tell us about your product and volumes.