Frankincense might sound like something you’d only hear about in a Bible story or a fancy incense shop, but it’s one of my favorite ingredients for homemade salves! It’s deeply nourishing, smells a little earthy and woodsy, and has been used for centuries to soothe skin, calm inflammation, and support healing.

This DIY frankincense salve blends whole resin, infused oil, and essential oil to give you the full spectrum of benefits, whether you’re working on dry hands, tired feet, or even fine lines on your face (which is why I have it in my DIY anti aging face serum)!!

It’s simple to make, and once you have the infused oil ready, the rest comes together in minutes 🙂 Here’s how to make this powerful herbal salve!

Why Frankincense? Herbal Benefits of This Salve

Frankincense (from Boswellia trees) has a long history in both herbalism and traditional medicine. The resin itself is anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and astringent, which means it’s great for aging or acne-prone skin, minor scrapes, and sore joints.

This salve includes frankincense in three ways:

Frankincense resin (tears): Ground and infused into oil, delivering deep skin support and healing compounds like boswellic acid.
Frankincense infused oil: A gentle, long-soaking method draws out the resin’s goodness for skin and joints.
Frankincense essential oil: Optional, but adds a concentrated boost for both scent and benefits.

Most people just use the frankincense essential oil, but that leaves out SO many of the other benefits found in the resin!!

Frankincense is generally safe for most skin types, but if you have very sensitive skin, patch test first, especially when using essential oils.

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DIY Frankincense Salve Recipe

Makes about 4 ounces

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons frankincense tears (resin)
½ cup carrier oil (jojoba or almond oil work well)
½ cup frankincense-infused oil (see below)
2 tablespoons beeswax pellets
15 drops frankincense essential oil (optional)

Instructions

Use a mortar and pestle or clean coffee grinder to break the frankincense tears into small bits or powder. You want as small as you can go to get the most benefits!

Frankincense resin in a mortar ready to be ground.

Add the ground resin to a clean glass jar, pour the carrier oil over it, and either:

Heat on low in a double boiler for 2-3 hours (never boil), or
Let it infuse at room temperature for 2-4 weeks, shaking occasionally.

Strain the infused oil through cheesecloth or a fine strainer. I love using the strained resin in my frankincense sugar scrub!

In a double boiler, melt together the beeswax and ½ cup of your frankincense-infused oil.

Remove from heat, stir in the essential oil (if using), and pour into clean tins or jars.

Let the salve set overnight until firm.

Notes:

Essential oil is optional, but it enhances the aroma and adds extra skin-loving properties. I always add it 🙂
Shelf life: About 9-12 months if kept cool and dry.
Store in tins or glass jars away from direct sunlight.
You can skip the essential oil if using this salve on kids or very sensitive areas.

How We Use It:

I keep a tin of this by my bedside and use it for dry heels, knees, and elbows. It’s also my go-to for small scars or after a long day on my feet.

One reader told me she uses it nightly on her neck and hands to keep her skin soft and youthful, and swears she sees a difference!

Others tell me how incredible it is for their joint pain, and I agree! I include it in my joint pain salve as well.

Frankincense Salve

Yield: 4 ounces

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Active Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes

Difficulty: Moderate

A soothing and aromatic frankincense salve made with frankincense resin, carrier oils, and beeswax. This natural balm nourishes and protects the skin while offering the therapeutic benefits of frankincense.

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Materials

2 tablespoons frankincense tears
½ cup carrier oil
½ cup frankincense infused oil
2 tablespoons beeswax pellets
15 drops of frankincense essential oil

Tools

Glass jar (for infusion)
Double boiler or small pot + heatproof bowl
Spoon or spatula
Grinder or mortar and pestle (for frankincense resin)
Fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth
Salve tins or small glass jars

Instructions

Grind up the frankincense resin to a small powder. Then pour the carrier oil over it in a glass jar. Use a double boiler and heat on low for a few hours, or leave for a few weeks on the counter. Then strain.
Melt the infused oil and beeswax pellets until they are combined.
Add in the essential oils and stir.
Pour into tins and let sit overnight until hard.

Notes

For a silky, smooth texture, strain the infused oil twice: once through a fine mesh strainer and then through a coffee filter. This removes tiny resin particles that can make the salve gritty, giving a luxurious feel.

💡 Extra: For a softer salve, increase carrier oil slightly or reduce beeswax by 10–15%. For a firmer salve, do the opposite.

Final Thoughts

This frankincense salve is one of those slow, thoughtful recipes that feels like self-care just by making it. It’s deeply healing, simple to customize, and a perfect way to explore herbal salves if you’re just getting started.

You don’t need to be an herbalist to make this DIY frankincense salve, just a little resin, some patience, and a jar or two. Trust yourself. You’re more capable than you think 🙂