Frankincense, also called
olibanum, is an
aromatic resin used in
incense and
perfumes, obtained from trees of the genus
Boswellia in the
family Burseraceae, particularly
Boswellia sacra (
syn: B. bhaw-dajiana), B. carterii
33,
B. frereana,
B. serrata (
B. thurifera, Indian frankincense), and
B. papyrifera. The English word is derived from
Old French "franc encens" (i.e., high quality incense).