THE ICONIC ANOINT OF THE ANCIENT WORLD

The canonical, classic Carterii Frankincense (Boswellia carterii) is the ancient olibanum, the biblical botanical, the timeless and treasured tree honored for its opulent oleoresin since antiquity. Frankincense essence is a fortifying tonic that has blessed ceremonies, been crushed into pharmacopeia, and ushered into unguents to beautify the body. Gracing the eternal airwaves with its warm balsamic Boswellia breeze, the consecrating chrism of Frankincense has baptized and revitalized, deepened the doors of perception and blessed many receptions. For centuries, among the arid climes and mid-altitudes of the rocky highland slopes of the Horn of Africa, heritage groves of Carterii have thrived. The tree’s organic, milky sap is tapped during the searing summer drought, when the tree exudes resin as a self-protective barrier to seal in moisture and cushion its bark against solar saturation.

Our Boswellia carterii hails from the arid highland slopes of Somaliland, where trees are deeply entwined in the region's traditional pastoral communities and families have stewarded specific wild groves for generations. The traditional harvesters who tend these wild groves hold such affection for the trees that they know and name each one. Once gathered as golden tears, the resin is extracted using ambient supercritical carbon dioxide to gently draw forth the complete spectrum of the oleoresin.

Living Libations Carterii CO2 Frankincense emanates a deep, reassuring balsamic base, topped with soft, camphorous-citrus cues and a fragrant fixative depth. Reminiscent of a sunlit balsam fir forest, the Carterii variety is characteristically classic Frankincense, the quintessential go-to for daily skincare, respiratory fortitude, and spiritual solace. Rich in vibrant monoterpenes led by alpha-pinene (26%), limonene (9%), myrcene (5%), and sabinene (2%), this full-spectrum extract expands into bio-active diterpenes (serratol, incensole) and replenishing triterpenes (amyrins) to offer a pale-golden, pourable elixir that brightens complexions and resurrects the spirit.

We offer two distinct extractions of Boswellia carterii: our classic steam-distilled essential oil and our supercritical CO2 extract. Which liquid gold to behold? Both illuminate the skin and spirit, and both emerge as pale-golden, perfectly pourable elixirs with a forest-fresh levity. Yet beneath the surface, their phytochemical alchemy diverges. Our steam distillation yields an ethereal distillate supercharged with mighty monoterpenes (over 50% alpha-pinene), ideal for immediate atmospheric elevation and daily pore clarification. In contrast, supercritical CO2 extraction gently draws forth the resin's broader lipophilic canvas, capturing subtle, denser constituents of diterpenic serratol, incensole, and trace triterpenes, delivering an expanded full-spectrum extract for deep Frankincense fortification.

In classical mythology, Frankincense sap was revered as condensed solar light, a physical materialization of divine nectar linked directly to the golden warmth of Apollo, the sun god. The ancients recognized Boswellia as a photodynamic elixir: a resin born of heat, alchemizing desert sunlight and sap into a restorative balsam for body, mind, and spirit. As Ovid writes in Metamorphoses, Apollo soaked the earth in heavenly nectar to transform mortal life into an enduring tree of life, declaring, "Yet you shall reach the sky!" At once, the maiden’s body, steeped in dews of sweet nectar, dissolved into the soil, where "slowly from this a sprout of frankincense takes root... bursting through the dirt until its top pierced the air with sweet balsam," forever releasing its sun-drenched sap into the atmosphere.

"The Phoenix does not live on fruit or flowers, but on frankincense and odoriferous gums."
— Ovid

"I was standing on the edge of the escarpment overlooking the Gulf coastline and the ancient groves of frankincense trees, Boswellia carterii. As we ascended the pass, we entered the ancient groves of Frankincense trees that had been owned and harvested tribally for millennia. Thousands of the Frankincense carterii variety with their bulbous-based trunks grow out of solid conglomerates. With their flaking and thick stems, I thought I was standing in a perfumed garden of delights." — Living Libations Distiller 

DISTILLATION DETAILS + APPLICATIONS

A superhero in skincare rooted in ancient Egyptian cosmetology, Carterii CO2 Frankincense (Boswellia carterii) offers full-spectrum cellular fortification, scar-soothing care, and deep nervous system relaxation. Extracted via supercritical carbon dioxide, this rich extract captures both volatile monoterpenes and heavier lipophilic compounds to calm reactive redness, smooth fine lines, and restore deep emolliency.

Inhalation Applications: Genuine aromatics offer a direct route to the ENT airways and frequencies of thought. When inhaled, volatile monoterpenes and neuro-active incensole acetate pass swiftly to olfactory receptors and the limbic system, shifting mental states and clearing cognitive fog. Enjoyed through diffusers, steam inhalations, saunas, or salt pipes, pure Carterii CO2 Frankincense purifies ambient air and fills room spaces with temple-like tranquility. Inhaled volatile constituents interact with mind-centering pathways, quelling central nervous system stress, deepening breath, and instilling an atmosphere of valor. Enjoy as a quick palm inhalation to pacify apprehension, cool tension, and waft away worry.

Topical Applications: Supercritical Carterii Frankincense is a supreme ally for tissue fortification and dermal renewal. Gentle enough to be applied neat to weathered areas, fine lines, dappled spots, and blemishes, this full-spectrum extract gets to work smoothing texture, relaxing reactive redness, evening tone, and fortifying cellular tissue. Denser diterpenes (serratol, incensole) and triterpenes (amyrins) work alongside monoterpenes to support natural skin renewal, cushion the lipid barrier against environmental stressors, and restore deep emolliency to dry skin. Combine with Sandalwood, Immortelle, and Rose Otto for an age-defying facial elixir. Elevate body massage oils, fortify facial serums, or place two drops onto a damp cotton round and sweep across clean skin as a tonifying, pore-refining toner.

Oral Care Applications: Historically chewed across East Africa as a breath-freshening gum and general oral tonic, its volatile monoterpenes neutralize unwanted oral compounds while respecting beneficial flora. Optimize daily oral care by adding a single drop to your toothbrush, running a drop along dental floss to clean between teeth, or swishing in oil-pulling practices. Press a drop to the tongue and roof of the mouth for an instant oral reset, or disperse one to two drops into a lipid carrier such as honey, melted butter, or warm tea.

Botanical Name: Boswellia carterii
Botanical Family: Burseraceae
Extraction Method: Supercritical CO2 Extract
Part of Plant Distilled: Resin
Country of Origin: Somaliland
Cultivation Method: Organic Wildcrafted
Composition: 100% Boswellia carterii
Consistency: Pale-golden, mobile liquid
Scent Description: Sweet, balsamic-pine resin with a honeyed-incense depth and soft citrus undertones.
Blends Beautifully With: Grapefruit, Rose Otto, Fragonia, Marjoram, Firs, Myrrh, Spruce, Seabuckthorn, Immortelle, Ylang, Sandalwood, Palo Santo, and Chamomile.

The Alchemy of Carterii's Phytochemistry: Dual Extractions of Steam Distillation + Supercritical CO2
While steam-distilled and supercritical CO2-extracted Boswellia carterii are functionally interchangeable across all applications, seamlessly serving the exact same restorative roles in skincare, oral care, and atmospheric inhalation, choosing between them is a matter of fine botanical art and subtle sensory preference. Both share identical physical elegance as light-yellow, weightlessly mobile liquids, yet their phytochemical architecture reveals two distinct molecular profiles. Steam hydrodistillation selectively vaporizes low-molecular-weight monoterpenes, yielding an ethereal, highly volatile matrix dominated by an abundant 53% supersaturation of alpha-pinene, balanced by beta-pinene (6%), limonene (4%), sabinene (4%), myrcene (3%), alpha-thujene, and p-cymene. This agile monoterpene foundation gives the steam distillate its signature coniferous-pine aroma with sparkling lemon-citrus nuances, gliding weightlessly over skin and absorbing rapidly to soothe reactive tissue, refine pores, and balance sebum.

Supercritical CO2 extraction operates under ambient temperatures and pressurized carbon dioxide to capture both delicate top-note volatiles and heavier lipophilic compounds that remain behind in the resin vessel during steam distillation. While visually indistinguishable and equally pourable, the CO2 extract shifts the monoterpene ratio, featuring 26% alpha-pinene, 8% limonene, and 5% myrcene, while expanding into denser sesquiterpenes of beta-caryophyllene and cubebol. Key to the CO2 extraction is the inclusion of diterpenic alcohols led by serratol and incensole, which lend a rich, grounding depth to the aroma while offering soothing moisture support and comforting emolliency for dry complexions. Together with replenishing triterpenoids including alpha- and beta-amyrins, amyrin acetates, and lanosterol analogs, these heavier, lipid-compatible compounds sit seamlessly within the liquid matrix, working invisibly to cushion the lipid barrier and enhance long-term dermal resilience.

View or download the Certificate of Analysis.

This essential oil is verified, genuine distillation, third-party tested to ensure 100% purity. 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How does Boswellia carterii differ from Omani Boswellia sacra?
While Boswellia carterii and Boswellia sacra were once thought by some botanists to be identical, contemporary phytochemical analysis confirms distinct species profiles. Boswellia sacra is harvested in winter from Omani cliffs, distinguished by its crisp green-apple and lemon-cistus nuance. Boswellia carterii is harvested in summer during intense heat, yielding a classic coniferous-balsamic warmth driven by a rich monoterpene foundation led by alpha-pinene alongside alpha-thujene, myrcene, limonene, and sabinene.

How does Steam Distilled Classic Carterii differ from Supercritical CO2 Carterii Extract?
Both essences originate from the exact same oleoresin (Boswellia carterii) and are functionally interchangeable across all applications, sharing identical physical elegance as pale-golden, pourable liquids. Steam Distilled Classic Carterii uses gentle steam heat to lift the lightest, most agile monoterpenes, resulting in an ethereal, highly volatile matrix dominated by an abundant 53% supersaturation of alpha-pinene. This offers a crisp pine-citrus aroma that absorbs swiftly for daily skin clarification, oral care, and atmospheric inhalation.

Supercritical CO2 Extract uses ambient pressurized carbon dioxide to capture both delicate top-note monoterpenes (featuring 26% alpha-pinene) and heavier lipophilic compounds that remain behind during steam distillation. This process draws forth diterpenic alcohols led by serratol and incensole, alongside nourishing triterpenoids like alpha- and beta-amyrins, creating an expanded full-spectrum extract that cushions the lipid barrier and enhances long-term dermal resilience.

What role do incensole and serratol play in meditation and skincare?
Incensole and serratol are denser diterpenic compounds captured through supercritical CO2 extraction. Aromatically, incensole enriches reflective practices, offering a grounding, balsamic presence that invites deep, rhythmic breathing and quiet focus during meditation. Topically, these lipophilic diterpenes work alongside nourishing triterpenes to cushion moisture loss, relax the appearance of redness, and support overall skin barrier resilience.

What is Boswellia carterii’s historical legacy in ancient Egyptian beauty care?
In ancient Egypt, Boswellia carterii resin was a key ingredient of cosmetics, Kyphi, and sacred consecrations. It was crushed and charred into the eye liners of kohl, imbued into botanical oils, and melted into unctuous body balms to adorn the complexions and hair of nobility. The resin was so central to Egyptian beauty that the physician Galen preserved formulations from Cleopatra’s lost treatise, Kosmetikon, detailing Frankincense recipes to nourish the scalp, cleanse the skin, and enrich unguents. Egyptians also chewed raw resin tears as a purifying oral cleanser and wafted olibanum smoke to clear ambient spaces, establishing Carterii as one of the most effective and enduring beauty botanicals in history.