Since 1906 monks at Calder Abbey in Wales had been mixing scented oils with frankincense resin and selling the resin to churches and to visitors to the abbey. In 1928, at the invitation of Malcolm Leslie, 20th Earl of Rothes, monks moved from Calder to Prinknash, which had ceased to be an abbey in 1541 when Henry VIII suppressed monasteries throughout the UK, and formed a monastery there, resurrecting the old abbey. The monks use original recipes dating back to 1906 to add scents to the frankincense resin, and continue to provide the resin to churches and cathedrals throughout Europe, and regard themselves as "the oldest major incense blenders in Europe".
There have been a variety of blends over the years, though as of 2025 the monks are focusing on five blends in which Arabian frankincense is mixed with scented oils in five styles: Abbey, Cathedral, Priory, Basilica, and Sanctuary. The oils used in the blends are not revealed. People may have fun trying to guess.
Reviews
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Prinknash Abbey Resin: Gums of Arabia (R) Aug 2025 - Score: 34 |
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Prinknash Abbey Resin: Cathedral blend (R) Aug 2025 - Score: 32 |
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Prinknash Incense: Abbey blend (R) Mar 2019 - Score: 29* |
Reviews: 3
Top score: 34
Bottom score: 29
Average: 32
Average: 32
Conclusion: The use of scented oils on the resin results in some sharp vapours being given off during the burn - good ventilation and/or a large space is my recommendation; though I also found that mixing the resin with some water when using an electric burner does soften the vapours, while keeping the fragrance fresh. As Prinknash resin has been used by churches for over a hundred years it has proved its popularity and success; though, personally, if I'm to burn resin, I think I would prefer to burn pure, good quality resin rather than something that has been scented. I don't feel that I am truly experiencing pure and natural frankincense with this Prinknash resin. I suppose for those who are familiar with burning pure resins, this scented stuff may ring the changes.
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