Galbanum resin (Ferula galbaniflua) from Turkey has long been valued for its wonderfully complex green, spicy, woody, balsam-like fragrance.

It is gathered in the summer season by collecting the resin from the bulb, root and lower stem of the plant. According to Greek scholars galbanum originates in Syria, but has been used throughout the ages by the Greek, Roman and Egyptian cultures as part of their incense ceremonies as well as medicinal practices. With the consistency of soft taffy, galbanum is used in many incense mixtures, including “God’s Smile”, the incense blend which is based on the recipe in the Book of Exodus. It also provides the “green” note in many perfumes.

As with many other resins, woods and botanicals, it has suffered decades of exploitation and over-harvesting, and efforts are underway to replenish the ancient resource by countries that produce and export galbanum.

Medical Disclaimer: Our expertise lies in incense making and fragrance. Information contained on these pages is solely for your enjoyment. We can not provide medical advice or recipes as we are not health professionals. Before ingesting anything that is not food, we strongly suggest seeking counsel from a licensed health practitioner.