What are frankincense and myrrh?

Frankincense and myrrh are both types of resin that were prized in ancient times for their fragrance. They are both extracted from trees as sap and left to dry for several weeks before being collected.

Frankincense is a milky white sap that is extracted from trees in the Boswellia genus. The most fragrant of these trees is the Boswellia sacra, which is found in Yemen, Somalia and Oman. Myrrh is a reddish colored sap that comes from trees that belong to the genus Commiphora. The most common tree used to extract myrrh is the Commiphora myrrha. It typically grows in shallow, rocky soil around Ethiopia, Kenya and Saudi Arabia.