There are very few perfume ingredients that go as back in time as incense, in fact the word perfume comes from the word per fumum, via smoke.
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Incense has been a key component in various cultures and religious practices for centuries. Its aromatic properties have been cherished not only for their pleasant scent but also for their symbolic significance, the reach for transcendence. The use of incense dates back to ancient civilizations from all over the world, where it played a crucial role in religious ceremonies, rituals, and medicinal practices.
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Hello dear,
In this Scents of the Earth I will talk about Frankincense, a sacred resin with long legacy, having been around for at least 6.000 years, and during this time has left an incredible mark on history, society, spirituality, and perfumery. Frankincense, derived from the Boswellia tree is known for its distinctive and complex aroma smells wonderfully resinous, citrusy, and slightly sweet. You will discover many olfactory layers soon!
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The resin is mainly produced in Somaliland, an autonomous region in northern Somalia.
With love,
Merle
In your box this month:
Organic Frankincense Boswellia Frereana essential oil, Frankincense olibanum from Boswellia Sacra, and Frankincense 'tears'
Corresponding images, books and video's
Aromatherapeutic blending by Jennifer Peace Rhind
This book is my bible on aromatherapy
Incense burner or Censer
Swiss before 1477
On view at The Met.
Catharijneconvent Utrecht also has some beautiful historic items on display. When I am in a museum I always play the game 'find the fragrance'. I find it gives an extra dimension to any visit
A healthy Boswellia tree in the wild
In the harvest of the Boswellia trees, overtapping- especially in the dryer regions is a big problem
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This video describes and shows the ritual of Kodo
In my video you can see a Western adaptation of this ritual
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Cumar Dhuule
Some wonderful vintage music from the area
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A Boswellia Frereana growing on limestone
The limestone is porous and in the little holes of the material, the tree will grow. It has been tried to grow Frankincense plantations but they won't grow, only under very specific conditions
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Frankincense in Lingua Planta perfumes Frankincense is a fascinating basenote, with notes that reach all the way to the topnotes that we work with in a couple of our perfumes such as Defend, Understory and Henosis.
Reach out or say hi
We would love to personally connect with you, if you have any questions or are in need for some help, don't hesitate to reach out.
or DM @linguaplanta
For centuries, humans have considered themselves to be superior to other species, but recent research has challenged this notion. Scientists have discovered that plants communicate with one another and with other organisms through a language of scent.
This revelation offers a new perspective on the natural world and highlights the complexity and interconnectedness of all living things. Lingua Planta represents a profound shift in our understanding of the plant kingdom and challenges us to rethink our relationship with nature.
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To celebrate the intelligence of plants and to evoke a perspective shift, we've created a line of perfumes chosen with plant ethics in mind. Our perfumes are crafted with care and attention to detail, ensuring that each fragrance is of the highest quality & friendly to all of Earth's inhabitants. ​