Tis The Season.... with Frankincense!

Tis' The Season..... With Frankincense!

With the cold weather of fall and winter coming in, and with it, the attendant focus on firewood and warming up the mountain cabin.... i find a focus on the essences and spices of warmth and holiday.

And probably nothing says seasonal celebration like the time honored Frankincense. Frankincense is the sap collected from bark slashed trees of the boswellia family. This is what the name incense is derived from, as frankincense was considered an ingredient to be used in virtually all types of incense. This is one of the most recorded of ancient scents used in sacred contexts, in many cultures. I enjoy this time of year with a wood stove as this is a most excellent way to enjoy the whole, pure tears of Frankincense.
This is a virtual medicine chest in a bottle. It, and Lavender, and very useful and basic essential oils to carry in a natural first aid kit. Both the oils can be directly applied to cuts and scrapes and road rash and other external injuries to help with trauma, both physically and emotionally, not to mention the infection fighting powers of the oils themselves. A great external application for insect bites of many kinds. Similarly, Frankincense aids itching and skin afflictions of many varieties.
Cosmetically, a drop of pure oil on ones wet palms and rubbed into skin for its line tightening qualities. (always dilute patch test before applying anything to the sensetive skin of the face). For those with oily complextions, this is an excellent thing to astringe pores and tighten skin, and clease problematic acne.
It has a positive effect on mood and seasonal depression, encouraging a calm and centered mind, and relaxing effect upon the nerves. An air-borne delivery of pure Frankincense oil has an immediate effect on surroundings and is a delight to many.
It enjoys an ages-old use in religious ceremony of many world religions.
At the Old Civet Cat Parfumery, we use Frankincense in a large percentage of our scents. Its sweet, resinous, citrusy pine notes make a welcome addition to all scents, both enhancing and empowering them, and giving other scents a very long life, the odor of frankincense clings to the skin well into the next day after wearing it. Its odor clings to fabrics and cloth, giving one a pleasent scent of discover later. So with the holidays in mind, i encourage everyone to find a little warm Frankincense to add to the ambiance and timelessness of seasonal celebrations. And i wish you all a beautiful, and fragrant holiday season. Now onto warm spices like cardamom and ginger, cinnamon and anise and other fragrant concoctions both olfactory and edible!
to read more about Frankincense, go to these to links:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frankincense
http://www.backdoorsurvival.com/powerful-uses-of-frankincense-essential-oil/

Happy Holidays from one human, 5 cats and one puppy!