Eating Frankincense
As well as lending itself to burning, drinking and eating, frankincense can be chewed. In Oman the amber tears shed by the aromatic resin take on every form, from intangible to concrete.
Wadi DawkahTHE FRANKINCENSE PROJECT
On December 2, 2000, UNESCO and the Sultanate of Oman signed a convention placing the Land of Frankincense – comprising four iconic sites in the Dhofar region – on the World Heritage List. For thousands of years, the precious resin has played a central role in the development of civilizations, sea routes, international trade and, of course, the history of perfumery.
One of the four listed sites is Wadi Dawkah, a 1,500-hectare valley that is home to almost 5,000 frankincense trees (Boswellia sacra). The trees have always been protected, but barely ever tapped.
An ambitious project is now up and running, driven by the Omani government and Renaud Salmon, Chief Creative Officer at the perfume house Amouage, with support from perfumery ingredient sourcer Dominique Roques. The new project centers on three key goals: to safeguard and develop frankincense tree cultivation in this unspoiled area; to build a high-quality industry for Omani frankincense essential oil; and to share this ancient cultivation tradition as widely as possible via a visitor center where people can learn about the natural environment, local heritage, extraction process and fragrance creation. The Nez editorial team is pleased to provide you with the opportunity to follow each stage of this extraordinary project in real time. Over the next three years, plunge into the heart of the Land of Frankincense and Omani olfactory culture with fascinating content that gives you the chance to meet the remarkable people involved in this high-profile project.*
Mathieu Chévara, Publishing and Creative Director
*Podcasts, articles, videos and a series of reports produced by Nez in collaboration with Amouage.
THE FRANKINCENSE PROJECT
On December 2, 2000, UNESCO and the Sultanate of Oman signed a convention placing the Land of Frankincense – comprising four iconic sites in the Dhofar region – on the World Heritage List. For thousands of years, the precious resin has played a central role in the development of civilizations, sea routes, international trade and, of course, the history of perfumery.
One of the four listed sites is Wadi Dawkah, a 1,500-hectare valley that is home to almost 5,000 frankincense trees (Boswellia sacra). The trees have always been protected, but barely ever tapped.
An ambitious project is now up and running, driven by the Omani government and Renaud Salmon, Chief Creative Officer at the perfume house Amouage, with support from perfumery ingredient sourcer Dominique Roques. The new project centers on three key goals: to safeguard and develop frankincense tree cultivation in this unspoiled area; to build a high-quality industry for Omani frankincense essential oil; and to share this ancient cultivation tradition as widely as possible via a visitor center where people can learn about the natural environment, local heritage, extraction process and fragrance creation. The Nez editorial team is pleased to provide you with the opportunity to follow each stage of this extraordinary project in real time. Over the next three years, plunge into the heart of the Land of Frankincense and Omani olfactory culture with fascinating content that gives you the chance to meet the remarkable people involved in this high-profile project.*
Mathieu Chévara, Publishing and Creative Director
*Podcasts, articles, videos and a series of reports produced by Nez in collaboration with Amouage.
The quintessential scents of Oman
The hospitality of Oman is felt upon arrival at Mascate airport with a subtle, diffused scent of frankincense as Omani people know that if they want to create a tranquil atmosphere, they can turn to olibanum.
The Incense Trade Route, by Sterenn Le Maguer-Gillon
What is the history of incense and its trade? That’s the question answered in this article, which traces the history of the “Incense Route” over several centuries, from its earliest beginnings to the inscription of the Dhofar region in the Sultanate of Oman as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000.
Sterenn Le Maguer-Gillon and Dominique Roques – Wadi Dawkah, The Incense Trade Route
Dominique Roques discusses with archaeologist Sterren Le Maguer-Gillon about how these places all bear witness to an era when the Omani region was a strategic trading crossroads on the Incense Trade Route.
Perfume as a way of life in the Middle East
Frankincense, bakhoor, attars: perfume is deeply rooted in Omani culture, starting with the Latin roots of the word, per fumum, meaning through smoke. The love of fragrances can be found throughout the Middle East, inextricably linked to how people see themselves and others, to their personal values, to the social rituals that unfold in daily life or at special occasions.
Wadi Dawkah, The Land of Frankincense
Renaud Salmon, Chief Creative Officer at Amouage and Dominique Roques, perfumery ingredients sourcer, discuss the precious tree’s renaissance in Oman.
Oman, strategically positioned in the Gulf
The partnership between Amouage and Oman, which aims to relaunch the local incense industry, takes place in the historical and geopolitical context of the sultanate. The brand’s intention is to contribute to the social and economic development of the country, while promoting Omani culture.
Renaud Salmon: “Wadi Dawkah is serving as a pilot project for the Omani frankincense industry”
In 2022, Amouage signed a partnership with Oman’s Ministry of Heritage and Tourism to relaunch the frankincense industry in the sultanate. This initiative follows on from the inscription of the Land of Frankincense on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2000. Renaud Salmon, Chief Creative Officer of the Omani fragrance house, takes up the story.
Dominique Roques: “Working on a multifaceted project focusing on frankincense trees is a wonderful opportunity”
After 30 years of experience in sourcing natural products, Dominique Roques has been given a three-year mission by Amouage. He is tasked with plotting the renaissance of the frankincense industry in the Wadi Dawkah natural park in the Sultanate of Oman, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
