frankincense

It's that time of the year where we'll be hearing a lot about gold, frankincense, and myrrh, the three Gifts of the Magi according to the biblical story. Most of us are familiar with gold, but what's the deal with frankincense and myrrh, anyway — particularly when it comes to beauty? First, let's explore frankincense, an aromatic resin taken from various species of Boswellia trees. Also known as olibanum, which comes from the Arabic word al-lubān, or "that which results from milking," frankincense is frequently used in perfumery, aromatherapy, and for meditation practices. You'll often see frankincense used as an anti-inflammatory for skin and arthritic conditions, and in traditional Asian medicine, its purpose is to treat digestive issues and to encourage healthy skin.

As for its aroma, depending on what type of tree and region it's obtained from, frankincense emits a slightly sweet, balsamic, spicy, and soft lemon scent, and you'll find this ingredient in a great variety of fragrances due to these qualities. For more products with frankincense, try REN Frankincense Vitamin A/C/E Revitalizing Body Cream ($48), Frankincense Oil ($7), and Lush Cosmic Dreamcatcher ($9) soap.

Source: Flickr User mamamusings