Incense in The Wind: Myrrh

Tuesday, 27 June 2023

Myrrh

The Commiphora myrrha tree, from which the myrrh resin is extracted

Myrrh is a traditional incense mentioned in the Bible. It is a resin extracted from the commiphora myrrha tree - there are differences in the scent depending on where it is harvested. It is a dry, woody, bitter, warm, deep, brown, balsamic, resinous scent, and is generally used in combination with the sweeter frankincense rather than on its own, so the sweetness and bitterness balance out and harmonise each other - like using bitter hops to offset the sweetness of malt in beer.

It can be made into an essential oil. These are not expensive. I have one from FreshSkin which is leathery, sweet, musky, woody, oily, some turps, some citric notes, pleasant bitter notes like tree bark, faint licorice. Because myrrh isn't a single scent, rather a blend of characteristics, it is difficult to synthesise, though there is myrrhone, made by Firmenich. It easy to make into an inexpensive essential oil, so most incense houses will use natural myrrh (including HEM). It has a warm-spicy, balsamic, musky sweet vanilla fragrance. It is frequently combined with frankincense.

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