Socotra Dragon's Blood Powder 20 g – Dracaena cinnabari

Socotra Dragon's Blood Powder is finely ground resin from the dragon's blood tree Dracaena cinnabari. This remarkable tree is native to the Socotra Archipelago off the coast of Yemen. Its intensely red resin has been known since antiquity and is one of the island's traditional natural substances.

This product is the same dragon's blood resin from Socotra as the variety offered in resin pieces, but here it has been ground into a fine red powder. The powdered form can be used particularly sparingly and is well suited to creating your own incense blends.

Dracaena cinnabari – the dragon's blood of Socotra

Various red plant resins have been traded under the name dragon's blood for centuries. They can come from botanically entirely different plants. The trade name alone is therefore not sufficient to identify a dragon's blood resin with certainty.

This dragon's blood comes from Dracaena cinnabari, the distinctive dragon's blood tree of the Socotra Archipelago. It is particularly known for its unusual umbrella-shaped crown and the dark red resin that exudes when the trunk or branches are damaged.

Dragon's blood from Socotra was traded far beyond its region of origin along ancient trade routes. The red resin was a valued commodity and was historically used for various purposes, including as a colouring agent, an ingredient in lacquers and varnishes, and as an incense material.

Why is dragon's blood red?

The characteristic red to dark red colour is one of the resin's most striking features. Once dried, dragon's blood can be processed into pieces or – as with this product – ground into a fine, intensely reddish-brown powder.

The colour is a natural characteristic of the resin of Dracaena cinnabari. It contributed significantly to the historical name “dragon's blood” and to the distinctive cultural perception of this natural substance.

Fragrance profile when burned

When burned as incense, dragon's blood from Socotra has a strong, warm and resinous fragrance with slightly earthy, dry and somewhat spicy nuances. Unlike distinctly balsamic resins, dragon's blood is characterised less by a rich sweetness and more by its pronounced, intense resinous character.

Because of its large surface area, the finely ground resin reacts quickly to heat and can produce a considerable amount of smoke. It is therefore advisable to use dragon's blood powder particularly sparingly.

Dragon's blood in incense traditions

Dragon's blood has a pronounced symbolic significance in various historical and later incense traditions. The red resin has been associated particularly with protection, strength and ritual purification. In contemporary incense practices, it is likewise associated with these symbolic concepts.

Such associations belong to traditional or modern spiritual beliefs and should not be understood as proven effects of the resin.

As several botanically different resins are known as dragon's blood, not all historical or spiritual traditions associated with the names “Dragon's Blood” or “Drachenblut” can be conclusively attributed to Dracaena cinnabari from Socotra.

How to burn dragon's blood powder

The powder can be placed in very small quantities on incense charcoal. As finely ground dragon's blood reacts quickly to direct heat and can produce a great deal of smoke, just a small pinch is sufficient.

The powdered form is particularly well suited to creating your own incense blends. Dragon's blood can, for example, be combined sparingly with frankincense and other natural resins. This allows its strong character to be incorporated into a more complex resin blend.

For a slower release of fragrance, the powder can also be carefully warmed on a suitable incense burner. Begin at a low temperature and gradually increase the heat if necessary.

Product characteristics

• Product: Dragon's Blood Powder
• Botanical name: Dracaena cinnabari
• Origin: Socotra, Yemen
• Plant part used: resin
• Form: finely ground powder
• Colour: intense red to reddish-brown
• Fragrance character when burned: strong, warm, resinous, earthy and slightly spicy
• Net contents: 20 g
• Use: for incense burning and creating your own incense blends

For incense burning only. Use the powder sparingly due to the considerable amount of smoke it can produce. Place the incense vessel on a stable, heat-resistant surface and never leave it unattended. Keep children and pets away, do not inhale the smoke directly and ventilate the room thoroughly after burning the incense.