Frankincense incense sticks al-lubān'Umān

Natural handmade incense from al-lubān'Umān in Oman
The incense is made from the unique resin of the Dofar Desert Boswellia sacra, also known as frankincense (in Western countries) or ladan , olibanum (in Eastern countries).

The legendary Dofar incense valleys are home to an annual harvest of greenish, particularly fragrant boswellia resin. The resin is carefully screened and sorted: 

• some of it is distilled to produce the extremely fresh, clear, mysteriously fragrant Oman frankincense essential oil; 
• the finest quality resin, ladan, sold in its purest form and used for incense;
• the finest remains of the resin, which are pulverised and mixed with water and various fragrant wood dusts to make a homogeneous paste. This paste is applied to thin bamboo sticks using a special machine (previously done by hand). The incense stick is then left to dry for about a day before being hand-painted.

These Omani frankincense sticks do not contain the carbon that is usually added to many Indian incense sticks (and virtually all synthetic incense sticks, which are made by soaking the carbon stick in a mixture of chemicals).

The smoke of these extremely mild and pleasantly scented frankincense sticks is calming and thought-provoking, and they are burnt in places of worship, during spiritual exercises and on various religious festivals. Respect is also paid to the guest by offering a frankincense stick to be smoked.

According to the collectors of frankincense in the Dofar valley and the inhabitants of Muscat, the capital of Oman, frankincense incense and resins are still used to perfume and enrich the home and the living environment, as well as for everyday household use, especially for the incense of clothes and wardrobes. Large incense burners are built in public places.

Frankincense sticks can also be used to suppress unpleasant kitchen odours and repel insects.
Frankincense is also commonly incesed in baths – especially favoured by women - as it beautifies and firms the skin and improves hair.

Frankincense/ladano resin from Oman

Frankincense resin from the Dofar Desert has been known since ancient times, when it was transported by caravans to surrounding countries such as Babylon, Egypt, the island of Cyprus, Greece and later Rome.

It was used for almost everything – royal ceremonies and religious rituals, embalming pharaohs' bodies, treating wounds and internal organs, cosmetics, perfumes and breathing food and drink.

The highest quality light frankincense resin can also be chewed. According to the Omanis, it is the best hygienic chewing gum. One or two pieces last a long time and keep your mouth smelling nice and fresh for as long as you chew. Chewing Frankincense also helps digestion

Photos by Veronika Gribauskaitė