The culture of perfume
In Islam, incense has no liturgical role. When incense is used in mosques or at family ceremonies, it is only as fragrance: that is, it serves neither an offering nor an intermediary.15A In the Sultanate of Oman frankincense is burned daily to welcome guests, to perfume clothes, spaces of house or used at family events, the frankincense is burned just before the ceremony, a birth for example, among other uses. Usually the infrankincensecense is consumed in a ceramic perfume burner typical of the Dhofar region.
However, frankincense is the essential ingredient of Oriental fragrances. Because of its unique aromatic fragrance16A , it is used by the great perfumers when composing a perfume. In the West it is mainly used by the perfume industry which exudes the value of its aroma.
At the heart of the Omani identity, the perfume is a real emblem of the Sultanate. The perfume is here of cultural order, deeply anchored in the society and its customs. His majesty Sultan Qaboos is also the "origin" of the famous perfume created in 1983. The company's first fragrance, called "Amouage Gold", was created by Guy Robert. 16 « Amouage ». A compound of about 130 ingredients, the most subtle and rare are used in the manufacture of Amouage perfumes including frankincense and myrrh.
Another fragrance from Oman is also very important. On the slopes of the Jebel Akhdar region the roses bloom in abundance. The geographical conditions of the Jebel Akhdar mean that roses bloom only a few weeks in April, but the short season gives roses intense and dynamic fragrance, which increases the value of rose petals and rose water. Rose water, is an important cultural site in Oman. It is traditionally used for religious ceremonies, food, cosmetics and as a perfume.
Damas roses
At dawn, after the first morning prayer, the residents join the rose gardens. The harvest, which begins in spring, at the end of March, beginning of April, has been done by hand since the dawn of time. “Rosa damascena” is the Latin name for the Damask rose. It is the queen of roses from Syria. Those that blossom in Jebel Akhdar (the green mountain) are renowned throughout the Middle East for their exceptional fragrance quality.
The harvest only takes place once a year. Thanks to the climate of this altitude (2000m alt.) the residents manage to cultivate species which usually grow on the rim of the Mediterranean.
In order to preserve the humidity level of their petals, the roses are picked between 6 and 8 a.m. before the sun fades the flowers. Only well-opened roses are harvested. The deliciously scented petals must be distilled right after picking so that the rose water retains all the aromas.
The distillation is done in an artisanal way in a terracotta oven. Wood is used but gas is preferred in order to maintain a constant temperature. This method produces rose water with a more or less yellowish color depending on the time of decantation.
The evaporation of the water, in the upper bowl of the oven, determines the cooking time, approximately 3 hours. As soon as it comes out of the oven, the rose water is put in a container for a period of 2 days. Then it is filtered and stored in large containers for 3 months to let the deposit rest, then sold. It is used for perfume, as a body lotion and for medical purposes: stomach aches and headaches. Drinking a glass when in pain can help . Its "smoky" scent is quite strong, especially when distilled with wood.
The therapeutic way
Frankincense honey35b , or olibanum honey or boswellia honey, is one of the rarest honeys on earth.
The honey is produced from the nectar of incense trees, which the bees (Apis Florea bees)36b collect when they pollinate the incense flowers!
This activity does not harm the trees; in fact, it helps them to reproduce and increases genetic diversity. Therefore, the production of incense honey actively supports the health of the tree populations, while allowing us to enjoy the benefits of incense without having to harvest the trees for the resin.
Boswellia sacra has tiny yellowish-white flowers, gathered in tight auxiliary clusters consisting of five cream-coloured petals, ten stamens and a nectar disc surrounding the ovary. The nectar is sweet enough to attract local dwarf bees and other visitors. The fruit is a capsule that releases its seeds through 3 to 5 valves.
In Oman, the flowers bloom once a year, in April-May. The flowers of Boswellia sacra (Burseraceae) have a conspicuous nectary disc that changes colour from yellow to orange and red as the flower develops. Honey bees are called Nahlat, which literally translates as God's gift.
impact on health
Their honey is harvested from the mountain wadis of southern Oman. A wadi is a valley formed by drainage streams, but differs from river valleys, or gullies, in that a wadi is usually dry all year round, except after a rainfall.
Honey contains small amounts of boswellic acids, powerful anti-inflammatory molecules. And although pure frankincense essential oil mixed with honey is used successfully in alternative medicine, eating frankincense honey is not a cure. However, it is an extraordinary food that will keep your body healthy and prevent potential illness. Small amounts of a remedy will act on the principle of homeopathy and keep your body on guard.
- Prevents infection and disease.
- Excellent antioxidant properties.
- Improves short and long term memory.
