Dragons blood (Dracaena cinnabari)

Botanical name: Dracaena cinnabari

Other names: 

Family: Asparagaceae

Part used: Resin

Dracaeana cinnabari is a tree in the family Asparagaceae. It stands tall as Socotra Islands endemic gem. Named after the red sap it produces, mimicing dragons blood.

The dragon's blood resin traded to Europe by the ancient greeks and romans according to historians was from Socotra. It has no scent of its own due to the lack of essential oils. However once heated it develops a deep, sensuous, dark and strong amber and nutty scent. Usually one does not burn the resin alone, mostly its used in a mix especially with frankincense. Local Socotran people use it a lot as traditional medicine for the treatment of wounds, diarrhoea, eczema and ulcers in the mouth. Furthermore it is commonly used as dye and pigment for colour coatings.

This Dragons blood resin from Socotra is available in small chunks or in coarsely ground form. 

It is harvested small scale and sustainably by local peoples.

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