Gold and Frankincense

When we were in Dubai we did actually buy gold in the gold souk, and frankincense in the spice souk. What a pity we didn't pick up any myrhh.

Looking at the word frankincense, I wondered if its etymology was from the Crusades as both Muslims and Christians referred to the Crusaders as "Franks", but apparently the name refers to its preeminence as the �true� or �frank� incense. It is also known as olibanum, which is derived from the Arabic al-lub�n (�the milk�), a reference to the milky sap tapped from the frankincense tree.

I haven't burnt any of it yet. I wonder if I will recognise the smell from my days as an altar boy.