frankincense

thumb|Frankincense thumb|Boswellia carteri tree that produces frankincense, growing inside [[Biosphere 2]] Frankincense, also known as olibanum (), is an aromatic resin used in incense and perfume, obtained from trees of the genus Boswellia in the family Burseraceae. The word is from Old French ('high-quality incense'). There are several species of Boswellia that produce frankincense, including, but not limited to, Boswellia sacra (syn. B. bhaw-dajiana, syn. B. carteri), B. frereana, B. serrata (B. thurifera), and B. papyrifera. Resin from each is available in various grades which is affected by the time in which it is harvested. The resin is hand-sorted for quality.

==Etymology== The English word frankincense derives from the Old French expression , meaning 'true incense', maybe with the sense of 'high quality incense'. The adjective in Old French meant 'noble, true', in this case perhaps 'pure'; although franc is ultimately derived from the tribal name of the Franks, it is not a direct reference to them in the word frankincense.