Bois d’encens

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.

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