The world's most fragrant trade

Frankincense trees typically grow to only 2 to 8 meters tall. They have pinnate, small, green leaves and prefer to grow on dry, barren rocky slopes. They can survive even with very little rainfall throughout the year. The truly valuable part of the tree is not its leaves, but its resin.

Why were frankincense and myrrh once more precious than gold? When people think of the most precious commodities of ancient times, many think of gold, silk, or spices. However, in the Middle East more than two thousand years ago, there were two natural resins from the desert that were even more valuable than gold: frankincense and myrrh.

They not only changed ancient trade, but also influenced religion, medicine, perfume culture, and even gave rise to the "Spice Route" connecting the Arabian Peninsula, the Mediterranean and Europe.

Gold growing in the desert

Frankincense and myrrh are neither flowers nor fruits. They come from trees that grow in the arid regions of the Arabian Peninsula and East Africa.

The harvesting method is quite unique. Workers gently make a cut in the tree trunk, wait three days for it to dry, and then pick it. At this stage, the frankincense is made up of soft, amber-colored crystals. These natural resins, which are frankincense and myrrh, can be preserved for many years after drying and sold to factories that produce frankincense for further drying and sorting. Early Malian merchants and frankincense carriers from Yemen transported frankincense to Gaza Port (now in Israel), 200 kilometers away on the Mediterranean coast, and sold it all over the world. This process took 180 to 210 days, during which they faced numerous dangers, including burning, killing, and looting, and witnessed the significance of frankincense to humanity.

Why are they so precious?

In modern times, we have perfumes, essential oils, and all sorts of aromatic products. But five thousand years ago, people could only obtain fragrances from natural plants. When frankincense burns, it releases a warm, woody aroma.

In the Hebrew Bible, the Queen of Sheba of Ethiopia, who had long admired King Solomon, traveled across the sea with camels laden with spices, jewels, and much gold, hoping to marry him. She presented him with the most precious frankincense and perfume, finally winning the favor of this wise king. This story has inspired many plays, musical pieces, and other artistic works, most famously Handel's "The Entrance of the Queen of Sheba." The frankincense that captivated the wise man thousands of years ago comes only from the resin of small trees on the edge of the desert, making it extremely difficult to obtain.

Frankincense has a stronger resinous scent with citrus notes, while myrrh has a slightly bitter, calming aroma. They are widely used in:

Religious ceremonies

• Royal courts

• Medical uses

• Perfume making

• Preservation

Therefore, the demand is extremely high. Many people have heard of the three gifts mentioned in the Bible, when the Magi from the East visited Jesus and brought three precious gifts:

• Gold

• Frankincense

• Myrrh

This gift list actually reveals something: at the time, people considered frankincense and myrrh to be as precious as gold. They were not ordinary spices, but important items symbolizing nobility and blessings.

A spice route that changed the world

Long before the Silk Road became famous, there was already an important trade route in the Middle East: the Incense Route.

Caravans used camels to transport frankincense and myrrh northward from present-day Oman to Yemen and then to southern Saudi Arabia. After traversing thousands of kilometers of desert, the goods were delivered to Egypt, Jerusalem, and Mediterranean ports.

Many cities in the Roman Empire prospered as a result, making the Arabian Peninsula a vital commercial center in ancient times. Camels were the greatest contributors to this trade; without them, the frankincense trade would have been virtually impossible.

Camels are able to withstand drought for long periods, carry large amounts of goods, adapt to the high temperatures of the desert, and traverse hundreds of kilometers of uninhabited areas, hence the name "Ship of the Desert." A large caravan may even have hundreds of camels, forming a magnificent trading force.

It turns out that people in ancient times also used fragrances. Many people think that fragrance culture only became popular in modern times. In fact, people in the Middle East have known how to enjoy fragrances for thousands of years. When welcoming guests at home, they would burn frankincense. During important festivals or religious ceremonies, they would also use incense to purify the space. Even today, in places like Oman and the UAE, you can still see the traditional incense burning culture. Many families burn frankincense every day to fill their homes with a delicate fragrance.

Frankincense was also once used as a medicinal material.

Ancient physicians believed frankincense and myrrh had multiple uses, and therefore they were often used for:

• Wound care

• Herbal remedies

• Oral hygiene

• Ointment making

Although modern medicine has differing opinions on many ancient claims, frankincense and myrrh are still widely used in fragrances, skincare products, and some traditional therapies. Today, you can still smell the aroma from two thousand years ago; if you visit a traditional market (Souk) in the Middle East, you'll often see vendors selling frankincense and myrrh.

A small piece of resin placed in an incense burner and heated immediately fills the air with a warm and mysterious fragrance—almost identical to what caravans smelled two thousand years ago as they crossed the desert. It transcends time and bears witness to the history of cultural exchange.