Myrrh and Frankincense: Fragrant Gifts from the Three Wise Men

In the category of incense, myrrh and frankincense are the best known, both for their medicinal properties and for the legends and religious significance associated with them.

But where do these pieces of resin come from, and what is their spiritual significance? Are they used the same way all over the world?

In our Master Parfums game, a quiz card is dedicated to these very special resins. Today, we’re delving into the origins and mysteries of these incenses for you!

Myrrh and Frankincense: Botanical Origins

Olibanum

Olibanum resin, commonly known as “incense,” is derived from Boswellia, a small tree found in northeastern Africa and on the Arabian Peninsula. It is obtained by cutting into the tree’s bark, allowing the sap to flow. As it dries, it turns whitish and opaque, hardening into a solid gum—an exudate. This is frankincense, also known as “Tears of Somalia.”

Frankincense (Boswellia serrata) is native to India but is also found in the Middle East and North Africa. Its resin has been used for thousands of years in India, China, and various African countries for its health benefits and medicinal properties.

The color of this small aromatic gum varies depending on the season in which it is harvested. Boswellia that is incised in the summer and harvested in the fall yields the finest quality incense. Milky in color, it is called white incense, or olibanum, as opposed to red incense.

Olibanum reveals notes that are at once fresh, aromatic, rounded, and warm, with balsamic (resinous, amber), mineral, and dry woody facets. It is a material particularly prized in niche perfumery.

Myrrh

Commiphora myrrha is found primarily in East Africa, particularly in Somalia; it is a tree that does not exceed 3 meters in height, from which myrrh is harvested.

Its large, twisted trunk is covered with gray or brown bark. Highly branched, it bears small leaves and flowers. Swellings form on the trunk, from which a resinous sap naturally exudes. Upon contact with the air, it hardens to form reddish-brown, highly fragrant solidifications: this aromatic oleoresin is known as fragrant myrrh.

Its warm, balsamic scent makes myrrh a prized raw material in the base notes of oriental perfumes. Rich and heady, myrrh lends a warm, sweet, dark, and sensual quality to the fragrance.

History and Religions

What gifts did the Three Wise Men offer?

According to tradition, the three Wise Men came from the East to pay homage to the infant Jesus and offer him gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. These gifts were highly symbolic:

Balthazar offered gold to represent power and kingship, but also because gold symbolizes light and the sun, signs of hope.

Melchior offered frankincense, symbolizing the divine nature of Jesus: incense is a way to honor God.

Gaspard offered myrrh, which is said to have euphoric and analgesic properties. A gift reminding us that despite the divine nature he might have projected, he was nonetheless truly human and, above all, mortal.

Traditional Uses of Myrrh and Frankincense

Frankincense was traditionally used by burning the resin during religious ceremonies, hence the name “Indian incense.” According to tradition, the smoke from the resin induces a state conducive to prayer, meditation, and spiritual experience. Furthermore, the burning of incense is the origin of the word “perfume,” as the rising smoke was believed to facilitate communication with the gods—“Per Fumum” (through smoke) in Latin.

The Egyptians used myrrh daily in their sacred rituals and to embalm their pharaohs. In battle, Greek soldiers always carried it with them because they knew it had antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties.

Frankincense is a type of incense known as “male incense” or “pure incense.” It was originally considered a powerful anti-inflammatory that also promotes tranquility and calm, which can lead to restful sleep and help relax the body and mind. It also purifies the atmosphere and eliminates negative energy. This is why frankincense is still used as incense for fumigation.

Today, it is often used as an essential oil as well as for fumigation and offers many other benefits: as an antiseptic, it promotes wound healing and stimulates the immune and nervous systems. It is antibacterial, cleanses the mouth, relieves muscle pain and osteoarthritis, and helps combat seasonal depression.

In the Middle East, myrrh has been used in traditional Arab-Islamic medicine for thousands of years. For example, it is used as an anti-inflammatory agent and to relieve rheumatic pain. It is recommended for cleaning wounds and preventing the spread of infection and gangrene once an infection has already set in.

The use of myrrh in traditional medicine also continues in India within Ayurvedic medicine, particularly for the treatment of canker sores, gingivitis, and pharyngitis.

In traditional Chinese medicine, myrrh is often combined with other herbs. When used together, they treat injuries and improve circulation—for example, during menstrual cramps.

Myrrh and frankincense have stood the test of time and crossed continents, not only for their medicinal properties recognized throughout the centuries, but also because of their profound spiritual and religious symbolism, which is imbued with mystical power and a divine aura.

Myrrh and Frankincense: Prized Raw Materials in Perfumery

Furthermore, their use in perfumery is becoming increasingly sophisticated, and some perfumers do not hesitate to showcase them.

Well-Known Fragrances Featuring Frankincense

Frankincense is used to reveal its woody, aromatic, balsamic, mineral, and spicy notes.

Histoires de Parfums created Encens Roi, where olibanum resin is carried by spices, precious woods, and vanilla. The result is majestic and deep.

Guerlain has chosen an oriental fragrance with floral and woody notes that takes on a deeper tone thanks to notes of incense and amber, creating Encens Mythique. It’s a fragrance that many women have embraced.

With Encens Asakusa, L’Orchestre Parfum transports us to a neighborhood in Tokyo, carried along by the sound of a koto. The incense from a sacred temple envelops powdery notes of iris and violet in its swirls, accented by the freshness of pink peppercorns.

In a natural vein, Les Parfumeurs du Monde olfactorily illustrates the incense route in Les Larmes d’Aden. A honeyed, citrusy trail carried by a sirocco of myrrh and incense.

Well-known perfumes featuring myrrh

Its warm, balsamic scent makes myrrh a raw material of choice in the base notes of oriental perfumes. Myrrh, rich and heady, lends a warm, sweet, dark, and sensual quality to the fragrance.

Annick Goutal’s Myrrhe Ardente is a woody amber fragrance that stands out for featuring myrrh alone as its top note. Myrrh reappears in the base notes, alongside benzoin and tonka bean. The blend is voluptuous and captivating.

Myrrhe et Tonka by Jo Malone is an intense amber fragrance where myrrh is paired with tonka bean, vanilla, and almond for a sensual and captivating result.

And a surprising duo from the Hermessences collection (Hermès) with Myrrhe Eglantine

Enough to keep the craze for these resins going for a long time to come!