Bois d'Encens

NaturalRESINS & BALSAMSbalsamic · warm · woody

BasePyramid

3/5Strength

—Tenacity

4Origins

Specimen

Boswellia sacra (syn. B. carterii)

Definition

Incense wood, not the resin. Bois d'encens is the bark and heartwood of Boswellia — drier, woodier, less sweet than the tears of frankincense.

WOODY RESINOUS DRY SMOKY BALSAMIC

FRANKINCENSE OLIBANUM

Type: Ingredient
Olfactive family: Resinous
Subfamily: Dry woods
Cluster: Classic resins
Chemical class: complex natural (essential oil)

Instruments

Pyramid

TTop

HHeart

BBase

3/5Strength

Medium

odour strength

Producing countries

Ethiopia Oman Somalia Yemen

Scent

Dry, woody, faintly sacred. Less camphorous than frankincense resin, less sweet than benzoin. A spare, austere woodiness with a whisper of incense smoke — like the inside of an old cedar chest that once stored church vestments. Structured and quiet.

In PREMIEREPEAU

DISCOVERY SET7 × 2 ml →EXTRAIT DE PARFUMThe seven extraits →

The Full Story

Bois d'encens — literally 'incense wood' in French — refers to the wood of Boswellia trees (primarily B. sacra, B. carterii, B. frereana), as distinct from the resin (olibanum/frankincense) that the same trees produce. The wood has a different olfactory profile: drier, more genuinely woody, less sweet and less camphorous than the resin.

Where frankincense resin is dominated by alpha-pinene, incensole, and boswellic acids, the wood emphasizes sesquiterpenes and woody-balsamic compounds. The result is quieter, more structured, less 'church incense' and more 'old wooden box that once held incense.'

In perfumery, bois d'encens provides a woody-sacred quality without the full liturgical drama of frankincense. It works in minimalist compositions, modern woods, and subtle Amber bases where the smoky-sweet richness of resin would be excessive.

The material is obtained by steam distillation or CO2 extraction of the bark and heartwood. Production is limited and typically artisanal, centered in Oman, Somalia, and Ethiopia.

—

Related: Amberwood · Andiroba · Bakhoor · Balsamic Notes · Benzoin Resinoid · Benzyl Benzoate · Benzyl Salicylate · Birch Tar

Did You Know?

Boswellia sacra trees can survive for over 200 years in the arid wadis of Dhofar, Oman. The trees require monsoon fog (the khareef) to survive — they grow in one of the few places on the Arabian Peninsula that receives regular moisture from the Indian Ocean monsoon.

Extraction & Chemistry

Extraction method

Steam distillation or CO2 extraction of Boswellia bark and heartwood. Production is limited and artisanal. Yield is lower than resin distillation. Major sources: Oman, Somalia, Ethiopia.

Formula: Complex mixture — key: alpha-pinene (C₁₀H₁₆), incensole (C₂₀H₃₄O₂)
CAS: 8016-36-2 (olibanum oil)
Botanical: Boswellia sacra (syn. B. carterii)
Appearance: Dark amber to brown viscous liquid
Odour strength: Medium
Synonyms: FRANKINCENSE OLIBANUM

IFRA status

See note

No IFRA Standard for the material itself (51st Amendment)

Physical properties

Note: Bois d'encens = frankincense wood. Olibanum essential oil (CAS 8016-36-2). Key components: alpha-pinene, limonene, incensole acetate. Specific gravity: 0.862-0.889 @ 25 °C.

In Perfumery

Base-note wood providing sacred-woody character without heavy incense sweetness. Functions in modern woody, minimalist, and subtle Amber compositions. Complements cedar, sandalwood, vetiver, and iris. Drier and more restrained than frankincense resin — useful when the idea of incense is wanted without its full olfactory weight.

Role in the formula

01fixative

02signature note

03blender

Available as

essential oil