Immerse your senses in the Scented Luxuries of Ancient Egypt!

Frankincense was said to be sacred to the Egyptian god forms Osiris, Ptah and Sokar, who were all depicted as mummiform rulers of the Duat or Underworld.

Senetjer has traditionally been identified as Frankincense by Egyptologists, and is usually translated simply as “incense” - the word meaning “of the gods”. In fact, the burning of incense and anointing of fragrant oils was called Seneteri - “to make divine”.

The historian Plutarch (circa 70 BCE) tells us that Olibanum (Frankincense) was the first temple offering in the morning as the doors to the inner shrine were opened. It’s use as incense in religious ceremony stretches back from the present day into the misty depths of pre-history.

Scholars tell us that Senetjer clearly denoted Boswellia spp. resin in the Old Kingdom, but also Pistachia terebinthus resin in the New Kingdom – switched intermittently for unknown reasons, perhaps due to availability or olfactory tastes. Boswellia spp. resin was also called Nenib by the Egyptians, and was known as Olibanum to the ancient Greeks. It was later named Frankincense in Western Europe after the Frankish Crusaders who revered it. In fact, there are at least 25 known species of fragrant resin-producing Boswellia spp. trees/shrubs that occur in Africa, India and the Middle East – none of which grew in ancient Egypt.

Some scholars believe that the species of incense we are offering here, B. papyrifera, with it’s clear golden color, has the longest history of use as incense in Egypt, being from nearby Eritrea to the South - the closest source. Along with B. sacra imported from Oman, across the Red Sea on the Arabian Peninsula, called Hedeg - “white”, B. papyrifera was the most revered in ancient Egypt due to the pure color and clarity of scent.

Frankincense has been used for millennia much like First Nations peoples use sage, for purification and banishing, and has show to actually have anti-bacterial properties. A great way to start your morning!

Try some for yourself!

Our incense is sold in two tin sizes: 2 ounce and sample, shown in the photo.

Natural resin incense is burned on charcoal in a fireproof censer. Be sure to add some Three Kings Charcoal to your order!