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Frankincense: Oman's Gift to the World
In this illustrated study of the fragrant resin crystal once valued as highly as gold, Juliet Highet takes readers back through time and over the Frankincense Trail, from Southern Arabia to Ancient Rome.
The Land of Frankincense - three ancient Omani cities connected with the frankincense trade - were recently named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The history and value of the resin, once as important to the ancient Arabian world as oil is now, is not widely appreciated today. This book that combines travel writing, history and a glimpse into the world of perfumery explores every aspect of these scented, amber-coloured 'pearls', from frankincense's harvesting from beneath the bark of desert trees, through the vital role it played in the culture of the old Middle East, to its contemporary use in aromatherapy and perfume. Hundreds of colour photographs illustrate the cultivation and preparation of frankincense today along the historic incense routes, while artworks and maps reveal how this luxury item was for thousands of years so crucial to the economy and life of Arabia.
The Land of Frankincense - three ancient Omani cities connected with the frankincense trade - were recently named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The history and value of the resin, once as important to the ancient Arabian world as oil is now, is not widely appreciated today. This book that combines travel writing, history and a glimpse into the world of perfumery explores every aspect of these scented, amber-coloured 'pearls', from frankincense's harvesting from beneath the bark of desert trees, through the vital role it played in the culture of the old Middle East, to its contemporary use in aromatherapy and perfume. Hundreds of colour photographs illustrate the cultivation and preparation of frankincense today along the historic incense routes, while artworks and maps reveal how this luxury item was for thousands of years so crucial to the economy and life of Arabia.
175 pages, Paperback
First published November 30, 2006
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November 29, 2008
This is a lovely book, rich in color photography, which relates the story of frankincense in ages past and in ages present. Told by an aficionado with a wealth of information to share, it's in big "coffee-table" format and makes a very nice impression. At this point, having myself done a fair amount of searching out the available writings, I believe this is the closest thing to a definitive work on frankincense on the shelves.
There are faults to be found in the book, and I wavered between a 3-star and a 4-star rating. What swayed me is that I do think people interested in the subject, despite the occasional awkward bit of writing, really should see the book. ("Rather like the Ancient Greeks, different fragrances are used for different parts of the body." Etc.)
The history, the harvesting methods, the ancient trade routes, the modern perfumes and the persistence of tradition in Oman: it's all here. Browse and enjoy.
There are faults to be found in the book, and I wavered between a 3-star and a 4-star rating. What swayed me is that I do think people interested in the subject, despite the occasional awkward bit of writing, really should see the book. ("Rather like the Ancient Greeks, different fragrances are used for different parts of the body." Etc.)
The history, the harvesting methods, the ancient trade routes, the modern perfumes and the persistence of tradition in Oman: it's all here. Browse and enjoy.
Displaying 1 of 1 review