Quick Specs
- Brand: 1618 Gold
- Type: Whole resin granules (tears)
- Botanical: Boswellia species
- Size: 1 oz
- Best for: Meditation incense, purification rituals, charcoal burning, church-style ceremonial use
One of the Oldest Sacred Resins
Frankincense resin comes from Boswellia trees native to the dry climates of the Arabian Peninsula, the Horn of Africa, and parts of India. The hardened sap forms naturally as “tears” when the tree’s bark is scored, and these dried droplets have been traded and burned in sacred contexts for at least five thousand years. In Babylon, an estimated 57,000 pounds were burned annually in temple ceremonies. The ancient Egyptians used it in embalming and in the preparation of kyphi, a compound incense burned in religious rites. In Rome, frankincense was burned at civic and religious ceremonies alike, and the trade routes it traveled were among the most lucrative in the ancient world.
Its ritual persistence is directly connected to what burning frankincense actually does: the resin releases a warm, deep, slightly citrusy smoke that slows breathing, creates a psychologically distinct atmosphere, and has been used across Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Islamic, Buddhist, and pagan contexts as a standard signal that sacred activity is occurring. The smoke is dense enough to be visually compelling without being acrid.
Tears versus Powder
Whole resin tears burn differently than powder or stick incense: they require a lit charcoal disk to release their fragrance and produce a slower, more controlled smoke over a longer period. This makes them better suited for extended meditation sessions or ceremonial use than for quick workings where powder incense is more practical. The 1618 Gold brand sources quality material identifiable by the size and consistency of the granules, without excessive dust or low-grade filler pieces mixed in.
How to Use Frankincense Tears Resin Incense
Three steps for burning whole frankincense resin tears on charcoal.
- Prepare Your Charcoal Setup
Place a heat-resistant cauldron or burner with a half-inch sand layer in your work area. Light a self-lighting charcoal disk at the edge and set it on the sand. Allow 60 to 90 seconds for the disk to fully ash over before placing resin on top.
- Place Resin on the Hot Charcoal
Using a small spoon, place two or three frankincense tears on the center of the ashen charcoal. Resin melts and smokes within seconds. One addition burns five to ten minutes. Add more as smoke diminishes to maintain a continuous burn during use.
- Use in Context
Burn frankincense to open sacred space, support meditation, or clear a room before significant events. Work in a ventilated area to prevent smoke buildup. Remove remaining resin from the charcoal before it burns fully if saving material for later.
The Tarot Fellow Standard
I carry frankincense tears because they are among the most historically credentialed ritual materials available. Few things span the distance from ancient Egyptian temples to modern meditation rooms as consistently as this resin, and the 1618 Gold source material is reliably clean. If there is one resin incense worth keeping on hand for general ritual use, this is it. Browse my incense and resin collection for charcoal disks and other resin varieties to complement it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frankincense has a warm, woody, slightly citrusy and balsamic aroma. The smell deepens on charcoal and changes as it burns down. It is drier than myrrh, less sweet than copal, with a clean finish and no heavy residue lingering in the air afterward.
Yes. Whole resin tears require a heat source and do not ignite on their own. Use a self-lighting charcoal disk. Place it in a sand-filled burner, let it fully ash over to gray-white, then place tears on the ashen surface to begin releasing smoke.
Frankincense has been used across Catholic, Orthodox, Islamic, Buddhist, and pagan traditions to mark sacred space, accompany prayer, purify environments, and as an offering. The smoke is associated in many traditions with carrying intention upward.
Two to four small tears are enough for a fifteen to thirty minute session on one charcoal disk. Add more as the smoke diminishes for longer burns. One ounce provides eight to twelve sessions. Store unused resin sealed, away from heat and humidity.
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