Frankincense Hydrosol
Boswellia carterii
Frankincense Hydrosol is one of my personal favorites for skin care, meditation and spiritual applications.
For meditation, cleansing a room and spiritual focus, I like to make a room spray that includes Frankincense Hydrosol. Look to the citation from hydrosol expert Suzanne Catty in the Uses and Applications section below for information on the potential benefits of Frankincense Hydrosol.
Though Frankincense Hydrosol does smell a bit different from Frankincense Essential Oil, the hydrosol shares the same fresh, woody, balsamic, slightly spicy and fruity notes. Those that like Frankincense Essential Oil are likely to love the hydrosol. Suzanne Catty describes the aroma of Frankincense Hydrosol as "extraordinary" and considers it sweeter and warmer than the oil.
Botanical Name
Boswellia carterii
Aromatic Strength
Mild-Medium
Shelf Life
Up to 2 years if stored properly (refrigeration is recommended).
Reported Properties, Uses and Applications
Frankincense Hydrosol is probably used most often for fragrancing and spiritual applications, and this is how I use it most often as well. Suzanne Catty suggests using it before meditation and for those that practice energy healing. She reports that it acts as an expectorant, that it can improve the texture of the skin and that it is helpful in hot and humid conditions. [Suzanne Catty, Hydrosols: The Next Aromatherapy (Rochester, VT: Healing Arts Press, 2001), 79.]
Sustainability and Conservation Status
Boswellia sacra is Classified as Near Threatened
Source: https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/34533/9874201
Last Accessed: February 15, 2026
Boswellia serrata is Classified as Least Concern
Source: https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/88319078/88319196
Last Accessed: February 15, 2026
Boswellia rivae is Classified as Least Concern
Source: https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/128044164/223074935
Last Accessed: February 15, 2026
To learn more about the conservation status of essential oil and hydrosol-bearing plants and learn how to use the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, please refer to AromaWeb's Guide to Essential Oils and Sustainability.
Safety Information
Read AromaWeb's Hydrosol Safety Guidelines.
The hydrosol information and safety precautions provided within this area are intended for educational purposes only. Neither AromaWeb, LLC nor its founder take responsibility for how you use the information provided.
Helpful Sources of Information About Frankincense Hydrosol
Hydrosols: The Next Aromatherapy
Author: Suzanne Catty
Essential Waters: Hydrosols, Hydrolats & Aromatic Waters
Author: Marge Clark
Aromatic Waters: Therapeutic, Cosmetic, and Culinary Hydrosol Applications
Author: Amy Kreydin
