Frankincense is also known as Olibanum. It is an aromatic sweet fragrant resin with the Latin plant name: Boswellia carterii. The plant is found in some regions in India, Asia and Africa. Frankincense has a warm, woody and spicy aroma bringing calmness, comfort and balance to the senses. In addition to being used as an essential oil, Frankincense can be burned in quantities as incense.
Frankincense is referred to as the king of oils due to the vast benefits it offers for mind, body and spirit, including its rich cultural and spiritual significance. For instance, it was one of the 3 gifts given to Jesus as an infant by the Magi (Wise Men), which symbolised Jesus’ priesthood and divinity. The other two gifts were Gold and Myrrh. It was frequently used in Egypt, ancient Greece and Rome for burial preparations, medicinal practices and even used as form of currency.
In ancient biblical times, Frankincense was used in prayer, incense offering, and worship in the temple and tabernacle. Frankincense symbolised holiness and righteousness and part of the items used to prepare the house of God.
The Bible verses below help to highlight the significance of Frankincense in the Old Testament:
Exodus 30:34 -36
And the Lord said to Moses: “Take sweet spices, stacte and onycha and galbanum, and pure frankincense with these sweet spices; there shall be equal amounts of each. You shall make of these an incense, a compound according to the art of the perfumer, salted, pure, and holy And you shall beat some of it very fine, and put some of it before the Testimony in the tabernacle of meeting where I will meet with you. It shall be most holy to you.
Nehemiah 13:9
Then I commanded, and they cleansed the rooms: and there brought I again the vessels of the house of God, with the meal offerings and the frankincense
Frankincense along with the several essential oils extracted from nature have been given to us to enhance our spiritual growth, remind us of God’s majesty, glory, splendour, support our daily living (mind and body), in addition to other benefits including commerce.
The Power of Scent
The Body of Christ needs to be reminded and continuously educated by revelation about the power of scent in the place of prayer, worship and wellbeing. There is the positive effect of power of scent in the atmosphere as a mood changing agent( in God’s presence is fullness of JOY) Just as the power of the sound of divinely inspired music enhances corporate or personal worship and meditation, the Church (Body of Christ) and individuals can find pleasure in God’s presence with the fragrance of His LOVE encountered through the support of powerful and uplifting essential oils.
Songs of Solomon 1:3
The aroma of your oils is fragrant and pleasing; Your name is perfume poured out; Therefore the maidens love you.
Through the power of scent, the Church (Bride of Christ) is:
· Lifted in her spirit
· Strengthened by His aroma - the aroma of Christ
She exudes His essence - life giving fragrance (just like essential oils)
In our oneness and union with Christ according to 2 Corinthians 15-16:
For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things?
Fragrant Reminder…
The Passover season is a time to reflect on the selfless love demonstrated by Jesus Christ who willingly gave up His life for you and me, following events leading to his intense prayer in the garden of Gethsemane and then his arrest, trial, crucifixion, death, burial, resurrection and ascension, to bring us back to the garden of sweet, fragrant love and intimacy with God once again.
Uses:
In addition to amazing fragrances and essential oils, Frankincense has variety of uses such as support for pain and stress relief, skin healing, mood booster, aromatherapy and its anti-inflammatory properties can help with irritable bowel syndrome, sinusitis health and boosts the immune system.
We invite you to journey with us in the coming blogs as we continue to explore natures’ blessing and wonders of essential oils with their unique fragrances and meaning, bringing life and wellness to your hearts and your homes!