The smell of frankincense resin and powder, as well as burned frankincense, has been linked to a series of health effects since ancient times. Additionally, frankincense and its fumes are used as a means to induce positive psychophysical effects and well-being, not only in an ecclesiastical setting but also in traditional medical applications. This review aims to provide an overview of current knowledge of the volatile constituents of frankincense, with explicit consideration concerning the diverse Boswellia varieties. Altogether, more than 300 volatiles in frankincense have been reported in the literature. In particular, a broad diversity has been found in the qualitative and quantitative composition of the volatiles with respect to different varieties of Boswellia. A detailed discussion of the various analytical approaches applied to isolating and analysing the volatile fractions of frankincense is also presented

Frankincense (olibanum), obtained as white gum resin of the Boswellia tree, has been used since ancient times in the Orient and the Occident both for religious and festive purposes, but also for medical applications and as an addictive drug [1,2]. In early history, frankincense was used in the resin form and also burned as frankincense pyrolysate. It was known to be antiseptic, disinfectant, an efficient drug against catarrh or diarrhoea, and was used in mixtures to initiate abortion [3]. Some principles of traditional Chinese medicineThe most important principle of is the "five agents". The five agents are similar to the European "elements" but the meaning of this concept is different and its importance is much higher in China. These agents are: fire, earth, metal, water and wood and either generate or dominate each other.