These three resins carry thousands of years of history between them, and they still anchor a huge share of modern perfumery.

Frankincense

Harvested from Boswellia trees, particularly associated with the Dhofar region of Oman, frankincense has been prized for millennia for its bright, slightly citrusy-yet-resinous, almost incense-like aroma. It’s historically significant across multiple cultures and religious traditions, and remains widely used in both fine perfumery and bakhoor-style incense.

Myrrh

From Commiphora trees, myrrh offers a warmer, darker, slightly bitter-sweet resinous note, often used to add depth and a touch of medicinal complexity to a composition. Like frankincense, it carries deep historical and religious significance across the regions where it’s traditionally harvested.

Labdanum

Harvested from the rockrose (Cistus) shrub, labdanum is sticky, sweet and slightly leathery, and forms the backbone of most perfumery amber accords, as covered in our main amber guide.

How they’re used together

These resins are frequently layered together, along with benzoin and vanilla, to build the rich, warm base of both amber accords and broader “oriental” fragrance compositions.

Frequently asked questions

Are frankincense and myrrh the same thing?

No — they come from different trees and have distinct aromas, though they’re often used together and share deep historical and cultural significance.

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