Ethiopian Frankincense

Note Profile

Botanical

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About

Frankincense from Boswellia papyrifera. Lemon and pear over resin, not the resin-first Omani kind.

Scent Profile

Ethiopian Frankincense smells of lemon first, a fresh, crisp citrus brightness on opening rather than a resin-led one. Underneath sits a full-bodied, balsamic resin body with woody depth. A pear-like fruitiness sets it apart from other frankincense, alongside a green quality close to crushed pine needles. That same pine-needle edge gives it an aromatic, herbal lift.

ScentWheel

Breadthmedium

EnvelopeBase · ~16h lasting

Family Fresh & Citrus, Amber · Musk · Leather, Fruity

Read off the wheel, not a label applied to the note.

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Materials That Can Make This Note

Perfumers can build Ethiopian Frankincense from materials such as:

Natural extract Boswellia papyrifera oil (Ethiopian frankincense essential oil)
Octyl acetate waxy · mushroom · jasmine

Smell words come from published sources.

A given perfume with this note may use some of these, or something else.

Origin

Resin of Boswellia papyrifera, native to Ethiopia, Eritrea and Sudan, and a different species from the Boswellia sacra and Boswellia carterii that supply Omani and Somali frankincense. The difference is chemical and measured, not just geographic. ScenTree files it as an 'Octyl Acetate Incense' at around 50% octyl acetate, against the 'Incensyl Acetate' group of sacra and Somali beyo material. Wikipedia cites 57.1-65.7% octyl acetate plus 3.4-8.8% N-octanol and attributes the citrus note to the ester. Hydrodistillation gives a colourless to pale yellow oil.

Usage in Perfumery

Base note. Attested on Parfumo in 28 placements across 10 brands, with no Fragrantica page for the term. ScenTree lists olibanum oil in 'coniferous, spicy, woody, amber and floral notes'. Première Peau notes that the resinoid, rather than the essential oil, is used where more depth is wanted, and that it gives 'a heavier, smokier, more balsamic profile without the terpenic top'.