For Maryam Belhaf, her frankincense products business, called Alshoala, is about sharing her family’s connection with the resin, which dates back at least five generations.
“My grandmother and other ladies used to get the frankincense from the trees when they went out with their goats, and then traded it for food from local merchants,” she said.
Ms. Belhaf now has 15 employees (and several family members still help extract resin from the trees).
She sells frankincense as chunks mixed with lavender, which is burned for its scent; as a perfume mixed with rose and musk; and as various scented lotions and skin toners (from eight to 25 Omani rial, or $21 to $65).
It also offers silver incense burners handmade in the region (about 45 rial).
Persons:
Maryam Belhaf, “, ”, Belhaf
Locations:
Aden, Yemen, India, Europe, ”, Salalah, Dhofar