Frankincense facts for kids
Frankincense is a special kind of resin that smells really nice. People use it to make incense, which is burned for its smell, and also in perfumes. This amazing resin comes from certain trees that belong to a group called Boswellia. These trees are part of a larger plant family known as Burseraceae.
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What is Frankincense?
Frankincense is a natural substance that comes from trees. It's like a sticky sap that oozes out. When it dries, it becomes hard and looks like small, shiny pieces. These pieces are often called "tears" because of their shape.
How Frankincense is Collected
Collecting frankincense is an interesting process. Workers carefully make cuts in the bark of the Boswellia trees. These trees might look a bit rough or "scraggly," but they are very strong and can grow in tough places.
Once the bark is cut, the sticky resin slowly comes out. It's a bit like how sap comes out of a maple tree. This resin then dries and gets hard in the air. The dried, hard pieces are what we call frankincense "tears."
Uses of Frankincense
For thousands of years, frankincense has been used in many ways.
- Incense: One of its main uses is as incense. When you burn frankincense, it releases a beautiful, strong smell. This has been important in many cultures and religions around the world.
- Perfumes: Because of its pleasant smell, frankincense is also used in making different kinds of perfumes and colognes.
- Traditional Uses: In some places, frankincense has been used in traditional medicines or for special ceremonies.
Where Frankincense Trees Grow
The Boswellia trees that give us frankincense mostly grow in dry, hot parts of the world. You can find them in places like the Middle East and parts of Africa, such as Yemen, Oman, Somalia, and Ethiopia. These trees are very tough and can survive in harsh desert conditions.
Images for kids
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A Boswellia carteri tree, which produces frankincense, growing inside Biosphere 2.
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Flowers and branches of the Boswellia sacra tree. This species gives us most of the frankincense.
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Frankincense being burned on hot coal, releasing its fragrant smoke.
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Pieces of frankincense resin, also known as olibanum.
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More frankincense resin.
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Frankincense is often prepared in a special burner called a censer, like the dabqaad from the Horn of Africa.
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Frankincense (Boswellia carteri) essential oil.
See also
In Spanish: Olíbano para niños
