Frankincense has been prized for thousands of years and in ancient times was valued more highly than gold. As far back as 1500 BC, frescoes giving a vivid account of an expedition sent by the Egyptian Queen Hapshepsut show frankincense as part of the precious cargoes.
The most sought after frankincense has always been from Dhofar in the Sultanate of Oman. In legend, so valuable were the frankincense trees they were guarded by winged serpents. Alexander the Great, tempted by this rich prize, planned to invade Arabia, but death forestalled him.
From these trees comes silver frankincense, the finest and most fragrant to be found. Pliny, the Roman scholar called it "the purest kind, bright white in colour" gathered in the early morning in drops the shape of pearls.
So important was this peerless crop, that two thousand years ago its production was surrounded in rituals. The working of trees was the hereditary right of a small caste. Indeed the tree's Latin name remains Boswellia Sacra to this day.
". . . the purest kind, bright white in colour"
Frankincense
