Frankincense: The Scent That Built an Economy

Long before oil, another natural resource made southern Arabia rich. Frankincense, the fragrant resin of the Boswellia sacra tree, grows best in the dry mountains and plains of Dhofar. For over two thousand years, it was carried by camel caravans across the desert and by ships across the Indian Ocean to Egypt, Rome, Persia and India, where it was burned in temples, used in medicine and valued almost as highly as gold.

The trade shaped entire cities. Sumhuram, near present-day Taqah, and Al Baleed, near Salalah, grew into busy ports whose ruins are now part of the UNESCO 'Land of Frankincense' site. Wealth from the resin paid for fortifications, temples and far-reaching diplomatic links. In a sense, a small tree connected Dhofar to the ancient world.

Collecting frankincense is a patient craft. Harvesters make small cuts in the bark and allow the milky sap to harden for several weeks before scraping it off. The best grades are pale and almost translucent. Cut too often, however, and the tree weakens; overharvesting, combined with grazing and insect damage, now threatens wild Boswellia populations in several countries.

It would be easy to treat frankincense as a charming relic of the past, a souvenir sold in small bags to tourists. The writer believes this would be a mistake. Researchers are investigating its medical properties, perfumers still prize its complex scent, and sustainable harvesting could provide steady income for rural communities. The ancient traders understood that the tree was valuable only as long as it survived. That lesson, arguably, matters more now than ever.