A Few Fun Facts About Balsam Fir

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas tree,
How lovely are your branches!
In beauty green will always grow
Through summer sun and winter snow.
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
How lovely are your branches!

(traditional English translation of the German carol O Tannenbaum)

 Many people think of fir trees only during the holiday season. Balsam fir trees are important part of our ecosystem, providing food & cover for many regional species while their root system prevents erosion.

“First described in 1768, balsam fir is a medium-sized tree generally reaching 40-60 feet in height and 1-1 1/2 feet in diameter. It exhibits a relatively dense, dark-green, pyramidal crown with a slender spire-like tip. The scientific name "balsamea" is an ancient word for the balsam tree, so named because of the many resinous blisters found in the bark. Balsam fir and Fraser fir have many similar characteristics, although geographic ranges of the two species do not overlap.”

Prepared by Dr. Craig R. McKinley, North Carolina State University (found on realchristmastrees.org)

  One of our most popular products is the Balsam Fir incense from Paine’s. Made in Maine since 1931, Paine’s incense is 100% natural, as local woodsmen bring in boughs that are subsequently dried & pressed into molds. No balsam fir trees are “cut down” to make Paine’s amazing products. Bring the scent of the holidays, of wintertime, to your space throughout the year. Visit us for more information on Paine’s Balsam Fir incense.

Let's Be Frank(incense)

Many people in the United States and across the world only think of Frankincense when the Christmas season rolls around. Christians, of course, think of the gift to the Baby Jesus by the Three Wise Men. But in some parts of the world, specifically in Arabian countries, Frankincense is a part of everyday life.

Our favorite Frankincense comes from Oman. In Oman, the sweet, mild citrus scent of Frankincense is everywhere: from government buildings to streets & alleys, homes, shops & more. As incense sticks are to Japan, Frankincense is to many Middle Eastern countries.

Frankincense comes from the Boswellia tree found in southern Arabia, Somalia, Kenya & India. There are over a dozen species, but 'sacra' is considered by many to be the finest smelling Frankincense. The actual tree is not the prettiest thing you'd ever see & you would probably not ask your landscaper for it in your Zen Garden. The Boswellia tree grows in harsh conditions & is likely to be found clinging to rocks or small cliffs.

Harvesting Frankincense can be tricky. A tree can be harvested up to three times a year, but often at the expense of lessening that tree's life span. Harvesting is all done by hand, no heavy equipment or machinery. A small amount of bark is scraped from the tree & will start to ooze resin. The harvester must wait until the resin harden before removing it for the sorting process. The resinous pieces, called "tears", are sorted by hand or in some cases, sifted. Then it's off to market!

In the case of Omani Frankincense, we are talking about Hojary (Hojari). The resin is sorted into two sizes, Superior (larger tears) & First choice (smaller tears). The only difference between the two is the size! You'll enjoy the sweet fragrance of both.

Have we piqued your interest in Frankincense? We have First Choice Hojary available here. If burning botanicals isn't your thing, try our amazing Oman Frankincense sticks.

Many thanks to Bill Huf from Scents of Earth for this article.