dōTERRA Frankincense oil: price, uses and what to know

Frankincense is the oil people are curious about and hesitate over, mostly because of the price. It is not a cleaning oil or a quick fix; it is a slow, warm, resinous scent for evenings, quiet moments and a simple skin care routine. People who like it tend to like it a lot.

In short: a blend of Boswellia resins (carterii, frereana, sacra and papyrifera) from Somaliland, Oman and Ethiopia, steam-distilled into a woody, warm, slightly citrusy oil. It costs $79 wholesale in the US and £81.76 in the UK, is used for meditation, evening diffusing and skin care, and is one of the gentlest oils in the range.

What it is and where it comes from

Frankincense is not distilled from leaves or flowers but from resin. Harvesters make small cuts in the bark of wild Boswellia trees; a milky sap seeps out and hardens into “tears” over several weeks. The tears are collected by hand, sorted and later steam-distilled. Trees grow in rocky, arid land, and a tree can only be tapped a limited number of times a season without harming it.

dōTERRA sources frankincense through its Co-Impact Sourcing programme, working directly with harvesting communities in Somaliland and elsewhere, paying fairly and investing in local projects. Using several species smooths out the differences between harvests and gives the oil its layered character: B. carterii and sacra bring the bright, lemony top notes, frereana and papyrifera the deeper, balsamic base.

Aroma

Warm, woody and resinous, with a fresh, slightly peppery and citrus opening. It is the smell of a church after a service, but softer and cleaner. On its own it is calm and understated; in blends it adds depth and makes citrus and floral oils last longer.

How people use it

In the diffuser. Frankincense is an evening and quiet-time oil.

Blend	Drops	When
Frankincense + Wild Orange	2 + 3	Winter evening, living room
Frankincense + Lavender	2 + 3	Before bed
Frankincense + Balance	2 + 2	Meditation, yoga, journaling
Frankincense + Bergamot	2 + 2	Reading, a slow Sunday

On skin. The most common habit is one drop of Frankincense in a palmful of your usual night cream or face oil. It is also added to a simple massage blend (three to four drops per 10 ml of carrier) for hands, neck and décolletage. Because it is mild, it is often the first oil people use regularly on their face.

For meditation and rituals. Frankincense has been burned as incense for thousands of years. A drop rubbed between the palms and inhaled, or on the wrists before sitting down, is the modern, smoke-free version.

In blends. A drop of Frankincense makes a home-made perfume or roller blend smell more finished and helps the lighter oils last.

Safety

• One of the gentlest oils, but still concentrated: dilute for children, sensitive skin and larger areas.
• Patch-test before using on your face: one diluted drop on the inner arm, wait 24 hours.
• Keep away from eyes.
• Use in pregnancy, while breastfeeding or alongside medication only after asking a doctor.
• Follow your country’s label: in the US Frankincense is labelled as a dietary supplement; UK and European labels are written for aromatic and topical use.

Is it worth the price?

At $79 for about 250 drops, a drop costs around 32 cents, and a diffuser session with two drops about 65 cents. That is expensive, but most people use Frankincense one or two drops at a time, so a bottle lasts many months. Frankincense is also one of the most heavily adulterated oils on the market: cheap bottles are often stretched with cheaper resins or solvents. The purity test results for each dōTERRA batch are published at sourcetoyou.com; see also why dōTERRA is so expensive.

Frankincense in the starter kits

Frankincense is one of the ten oils in Home Essentials and Family Essentials, and as the priciest of the ten it is the reason the kits are such good value. If you want Frankincense plus a handful of everyday oils, a kit almost always beats buying singles; see which dōTERRA kit to choose. For skin care blends it pairs well with Copaiba, and for evenings with Lavender.

Where to buy it

Buy Frankincense only from the official dōTERRA warehouse in your country at the price shown above; it is the oil most worth faking. Read how to spot a fake before trusting a marketplace offer, and consider a wholesale account to save 25%. Pick your country on the home page or ask us.

Questions and answers

How much does dōTERRA Frankincense cost?

In the US a 15 ml bottle is $79.00 wholesale and $105.33 retail; in the UK £81.76 / £109.01. It is one of the most expensive everyday oils; the table above lists ten countries from the official October 2026 price lists.

Why is Frankincense so expensive?

The oil comes from resin tapped by hand from wild Boswellia trees in remote, dry regions, and each tree yields only a small amount per season. Responsible tapping limits how much can be taken, and dōTERRA blends several species, all of which must be harvested and transported from the Horn of Africa and Arabia.

Which species is in dōTERRA Frankincense?

A blend of Boswellia carterii, frereana, sacra and papyrifera. Mixing species gives a more rounded aroma and keeps supply steady, since harvests of any single species vary from year to year.

How do I use Frankincense in skin care?

The simplest way is one drop added to your usual moisturiser or face oil in the evening. It is one of the gentler oils, but patch-test first if you have sensitive skin.

Is Frankincense included in a starter kit?

Yes. Frankincense is one of the ten oils in Home Essentials (15 ml bottles plus a diffuser) and Family Essentials (5 ml bottles), and because it is the most expensive of the ten, it accounts for a large part of a kit's value.

This information is for general aromatic and household use. dōTERRA products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Follow the label of the product sold in your country; ask a doctor before use during pregnancy, with children or with medical conditions.