Resin-essence

Smokewalker's distillation is done with ‘reverence, respect and revel’ but what does this mean? It means our intention during distillation is to love, honor, and celebrate the essence of Boswellia Sacra. To distill a material is to meet its spirit, and this spirit is ancient and kind, but MUST be treated with presence and intention, and this we learned the hard way when an ENTIRE distillation blew up in our brand newly renovated kitchen, but more on that later.

Partnering with Oman’s Harvesters

The foundation to our essential oil is of course the resin, for which we source the finest frankincense there is, Boswellia Sacra. But equally as important is the harvesting methods, sustainability, and support for the local community. By having direct and personal connections with harvesters in Oman, we can verify that the tribespeople are supported for their craft and that the trees are never over-tapped, ensuring bountiful future harvests and the health of the overall ecosystem.

The Distilling Process in the Appalachian Mountains

Once the resin arrives at our home outside Asheville, NC, we prepare for the distillation journey, and it is a journey. Our copper alembic still comes from Portugal’s premiere still manufacturer (Iberian Coppers), these voluptuous works of art feel like the form of a metallic goddess.

The still is prepared by putting the frankincense into the womb of the still, filling the void space with fresh well water from our land and sealing it shut using a hand kneaded flour dough. Once the cauldron begins to boil, it is taken down to temperature and the first wisps of the spirit of Frankincense escape, it is nothing short of a spiritual experience. The first wisps, the ‘Angel’s share’ cannot be captured, they are a gift only to the wind and the distiller.

Once the delicate balance between the flame, the condenser, the hydrosol faucet, and the oil separator are found, we sit. Still sitting is acting as the midwife, witnessing the transformation, tending to any areas of disruption, and ushering this new form into being. The process is slow, 8-10 hours, and after some trial and error, we know now not to EVER leave the still unattended.

It was our third distillation, our boys were 3 and 9 months old. We set up the still. In all her glory on our new beautiful stovetop in our newly renovated kitchen. Once the still was rolling, we decided we could tend to house and home and we went about our home-y business.

A couple hours later, I heard a high-pitch whistle, so with my baby on my back, I headed to the kitchen, as I rounded the bar top, a single step outside the blast zone, the 10-gallon cauldron full of boiling water and melted frankincense resin blew its top! The sticky tacky liquid covered every square inch of the new stove top, along with every counter, every cabinet, and the entire floor of our new kitchen. Every inch was blessed with resin that would dry out the moment the water ran or was cleaned off. To this day it smells like frankincense every time we bake.

So now we tend the still, we use it as encouragement to act in its namesake, to still our bodies, still our minds, still the moment so that the essence of spirit can be known.

A Hands-On Approach from Start to Finish

Smokewalkers don’t just make the best frankincense oil, although we do that too—we encode the oil with presence and prayers. We read Hafiz and Rumi poetry, we nibble on charcuterie and fruit, we allow the process. We recognize through our own spiritual journey that sifting through all the matter to find the truth, the essence of yourself, takes time, patience, repetition and ritual. It’s a willingness, a slow simmer, and a whispered prayer.

We believe our frankincense oil is the best small-batch frankincense oil in the world, a result of years of work, partnerships, and expertise. We invite you to experience the difference that care and craftsmanship make, from the harvesters in Oman to our copper still in the Appalachian Mountains, with Smokewalkers.