Frankincense, Olibanum, (Luban in Arabic), has been used in a variety of ways over the centuries. The Greeks, Romans, Egyptians, Israelites and numerous other cultures used frankincense as part of their religious ceremonies such as the birth of a child. The earliest recorded use of Frankincense is found on Egypt’s Queen Hatshepsut’s tomb. In Egypt, Greece, and Rome it was burned in offering to various dieties. Numerous ancient texts including the Old Testament make frequent mention of frankincense in a religious context. The origin of Frankincense is traced back to the Arabian Peninsula. Because frankincense grows almost exclusively in Oman, it has been a vital part of the Omani culture for over millennia. In these ancient times Frankincense had also been used in India to make incense for worship as in the Middle East. Frankincense traded throughout the Middle East at least since 1500 B.C and eventually came to China to also be used in medicine. In these historic years the value of Frankincense was equal to if not greater than the value of Gold. One significant event in history that we are familiar with the use of Frankincense was the story of the Three Wise Men (the Magi). Many believe that these gifts brought to the Christ Child by the Magi may well have been the origins of our present-day custom of gift giving at Christmas. Click this link for a complete history of the Frankincense from Oman.