Oman: Land of Frankincense

Lifestyle Tuesday 29/November/2016 12:56 PM
By: Times News Service
Oman: Land of Frankincense

Frankincense, also called olibanum, is an aromatic resin used in incense and perfume. It is obtained by cutting the tree’s bark of the genus Boswellia which grows in Arabia, Africa and South Asia. Check out our special edition on frankincense.
The English word is derived from Old French franc encens (high quality incense).
Many centuries ago, a huge enterprise of caravan was established along the Arabian peninsula when the Mediterranean civilizations discovered and fell captivated by its aroma.
Soon this commodity became even more expensive than gold, and up until petroleum was discoverd in Arabia. Many experts agree that the best kind of frankincense is produced by the species which are native in Oman.