Boswellia – Boswellia serrata

Description

Boswellia serrata, commonly called Indian frankincense, is a tree native to the mountainous regions of the Middle East. As its common name suggests, it is related to the tree that yields frankincense. As with its botanical cousin, its trunk is slashed to permit the flow of a resinous gum, which is also known as guggulu and locally called shallaki (Sanskrit). After collection, the resin is cured in specialized bamboo baskets before being broken in to pieces and graded according to color and shape. Boswellia serrata has a very pleasant, exotic scent when burned as incense alone or in combination with other resins.