Essential Oil – Myrrh

Botanical name: Commiphora myrrha

Color: Medium amber

Consistency: Thick, somewhat syrupy

Perfumery note: Base

Related Planets/Deities: Mars/Ra/Isis/Sun

Aroma: Delicate, complex, spicy, piney, exotic, regal, mystical

Energetic Properties: Fortifying, transporting, bracing

Aromatherapy Properties: Myrrh oil is a pale yellow to dark amber oily liquid with a warm, sweet-balsamic, spicy, slightly medicinal odor. It blends well with benzoin, cypress, frankincense, geranium, juniper berry, lavender, mandarin, mints, oakmoss, patchouli, pine, sandalwood, thyme, and spice oils. 

Spiritual Uses: Myrrh has a very rich history of spiritual and magickal use. A deep, immensely spiritual scent, Myrrh is associated with courage, fortitude, and psychic protection. It is used in funerary rites, and is associated with the spaces that lie beyond this plane. In ancient Egypt, Myrrh was the scent used for midday worship of Ra, and is thus fit for honoring the sun.

Blends well with: Frankincense, for a truly timeless sacred blend. Myrrh also blends well with Lavender, Rosemary, Patchouli, Sandalwood, and Clove oil.

History: The name is derived from the Aramaic murr, meaning “was bitter.” In ancient Egypt, Myrrh was heavily used in the embalming process (as well as in the worship of Ra and Isis). Along with Labdanum, Myrrh was a key component of Ketoret, a consecrated incense used in the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem. According to Matthew 2:11, Myrrh was one of the three gifts given to the baby Jesus by the Magi, along with Frankincense and gold. It has a long tradition of use in Indian Ayurvedic medicine and is still used in nearly every church service of both the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox Churches, and also in Roman Catholic Church services. In antiquity, Myrrh was sometimes worth even more by weight than gold.