Frankincense Supply Crisis Looms as Demand Soars

The global demand for frankincense is outpacing sustainable harvesting, threatening the beauty industry's favorite ingredient.

Frankincense trees in Ethiopia and Somalia are being tapped faster than they can heal due to high market demand and economic pressure.

According to Ali Abdi of Desert Resin, responsible harvesting has clear limits: 'A healthy frankincense tree should not be tapped continuously or excessively.'

The price of frankincense essential oil is often subsidized by a tree that's being tapped faster than it can heal.