Skip to main content

    Ingredient Profile

    Frankincense CO2 absolute fragrance note

    Frankincense CO2 absolute captures the crisp, resinous heart of Boswellia resin, delivering a clear, slightly citrus edge with warm woody de…More

    Somalia

    1

    Fragrances

    Fragrances featuring Frankincense CO2 absolute

    Character

    The Story of Frankincense CO2 absolute

    Frankincense CO2 absolute captures the crisp, resinous heart of Boswellia resin, delivering a clear, slightly citrus edge with warm woody depth, ideal for modern and classic compositions.

    Heritage

    Frankincense has been prized since antiquity, appearing in Egyptian tombs as early as 2500 BCE where it scented sacred oils. Persian chemists refined early distillation techniques, allowing the first alcohol‑based perfumes to carry frankincense aroma beyond oily bases. Trade routes carried Boswellia resin from the Arabian Peninsula and the Horn of Africa to Mediterranean markets, where it featured in religious rites and royal courts. By the 10th century, Islamic scholars documented the resin's calming properties and its use in incense blends for prayer. The 19th‑century rise of modern perfumery saw steam distillation replace older methods, yet the delicate profile suffered loss of bright top notes. In the late 20th century, supercritical CO2 extraction revived interest, delivering a clear, stable absolute that honors the ancient scent while meeting contemporary formulation standards.

    At a Glance

    Fragrances

    1

    Feature this note

    Origin

    Somalia

    Primary source region

    Ingredient Details

    Extraction

    Supercritical CO2 extraction

    Used Parts

    Resin

    Did You Know

    "A single Boswellia tree can produce up to 2 kg of resin each year, yet only a fraction becomes CO2 absolute, making it one of the most resource‑intensive natural extracts used in perfumery."

    Production

    How Frankincense CO2 absolute Is Made

    Supercritical CO2 extraction begins with raw frankincense resin harvested from Boswellia trees. The resin is cleaned, then placed in a sealed vessel where carbon dioxide is pressurized above 7 MPa and heated to 40‑45 °C. Under these conditions CO2 behaves like a solvent, pulling out aromatic compounds without breaking fragile terpenes. The mixture flows through a separator; when pressure drops, CO2 returns to gas, leaving a viscous absolute behind. This method avoids high temperatures that can scorch delicate notes, preserving the resin's bright citrus top and its deep, woody base. The resulting absolute contains a high concentration of monoterpenes such as α‑pinene and limonene, alongside sesquiterpenes like incensole acetate. After filtration, the absolute is stored in amber glass to protect it from light, ready for blending into perfume bases.

    Provenance

    Somalia

    Somalia2.0°N, 45.0°E

    About Frankincense CO2 absolute