Resin is an amazing substance produced by certain trees in response to damage. The sticky substance has antibacterial properties, acting as a healing plaster for the tree that seals the wound and prevents the tree from further damage or infection.
Alongside its wealth of medicinal properties, resins often have beautiful aromas and have been gathered for use in incense and medicine for thousands of years. Well known and loved examples of tree resins include Frankincense, Copal and Myrrh. Frankincense in particular is one of the oldest traded commodities in the world spanning at least 5,000 years and anyone lucky enough to have smelt this resin burning will understand why it is so revered…
We believe when connecting with any natural resource that it is important to try to understand and consider the ethical and sustainability implications involved. Sadly many of the trees that resins are gathered from commercially are now overharvested. Frankincense for example is collected from different species of the Boswellia tree that grow in the dry and harsh climates of the Arabian Peninsula, East Africa and India. Many of these species are now in severe decline with some facing extinction.
This is one of the reasons why we are so passionate about growing and gathering everything that goes into our incense blends including the resin. We are lucky to have a number of beautifully smelling resin producing trees growing in the UK including Pines, Firs and Cedars.
When gathering resin it is important to keep in mind that the tree has produced the substance in order to heal itself. It is also collected by different wildlife that use it too. We only ever collect resin from areas of excess where it has dripped down the tree’s bark and never from the wound where it has a vital role in protecting the tree. We add resin sparingly to our blends where it accompanies a rich array of beautiful plants all grown, gathered and prepared with deep love and respect to nature always!
You can read more about each of our incense blends here.
With love and plant magick,
Nic and Chris x
Wild Fen 