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Frankincense and Myrrh is one of my most favorite scent blends that we make. I love so much about these essential oils that we have created a number of products with them. Yes, they are a bit pricey, but then good things often are and these essential oils are definitely worth it. There are many benefits that come with bringing frankincense and myrrh into your life. Read on to see why I am such a fan.
Frankincense & Myrrh, particularly frankincense have become somewhat of the darlings of essential oil fans and with good reason. They are wonderful. They smell incredible and they have some wonderful benefits for skin care and more.
But before I get into my top 6 reasons why I love them, I want to explain just a bit of where they come from and how they came to be so important.
So let’s dive in, but there is a Table of Contents if you want to skip to your favorite parts.
Table of Contents
What are Frankincense and Myrrh?
We start at the beginning with FAQs.
Frankincense & Myrrh are both resins that are extracted from trees in the Burseraceae family, also known as the torchwood or incense family. Frankincense comes from the Boswellia tree and Myrrh from the Commiphora Tree. The resins are processed to frankincense tears and myrrh beads as well as essential oils.
Both resins have been used for centuries as incense and in spiritual and religious ceremonies. Ancient civilizations also used them as perfume. Both were mentioned in the Bible to be used for anointing and as incense as well as being given as gifts to the Christ child by the magi.
They have also been used for healing, especially in traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic medicines. Today they are both used in pharmaceutical products as well as flavor and fragrance components across many industries.
The short answer is supply and demand. Both Frankincense and Myrrh come from trees that only grow in the Arabian penisula. The process of extracting sap from Boswellia and Commiphora trees is virtually identical.
Incisions, or taps, are made in the bark of the tree, which create injury. The trees produce a gummy resin, like a scab, as a protection against the injury. The resin then hardens into teardrop pieces or beads. More incisions are made at important intervals to continue the production of resin exudates. This process actually injures the tree so if it is not managed then the trees are at risk. You can watch a clip here of part of the process.
Both of these resins have been considered valuable for centuries. The Catholic Church alone uses an estimated 50 metric tons of frankincense a year. With such a large demand for these resins and a limited supply, prices are high.
6 Reasons why I love Frankincense & Myrrh
1. They smell amazing.
You may wonder why I listed this first. (Or maybe, not!) How things smell is important and no where more than what you put on your skin. I mean that scent is pretty up close and personal. Am I right or am I right?
So what do they smell like? They are both resins so they have warm, rich notes with a sweet balsamic undertone. Frankincense is a bit lighter in scent and definitely color than Myrrh. Our Frankincense & Myrrh essential oil blend also contains some Sweet Orange essential oil which adds a bit of citrus to the blend and makes it a touch sweeter. Most people seem to like it. I personally LOVE it!
2. They are beneficial for mature skin.
The essential oils of both frankincense and myrrh are considered to help with wrinkles and mature skin. We put frankincense in our Anti-Aging Face Serum as well as our Carrot Seed Complexion Bars.
They both have lots of antioxidants and anti-flammatory properties and aid in reducing not only wrinkles but also scarring and stretch marks.
3. They are both very helpful for respiratory issues.
- Asthma
- Bronchitis
- Catarrh
- Cough
- Laryngitis
- Myrrh for gum infections, ulcers and gingivitis
4. Stressed out? Smell some frankincense.
Or better yet rub some of our Frankincense & Myrrh Body Oil on. It is in a base of safflower oil which is moisturizing without being greasy. You can use it just like body lotion. This way the essential oils are actually soaking into your body. Oh yeah. That’s what we want.
Frankincense in particular is excellent for:
- Anxiety, nervous tension & stress
- Chapped and cracked skin
- Dry skin
- Scars and wounds, as mentioned above
“Frankincense has the ability to slow down and deepen the breath . . . “ There is a reason it has been used for rituals and meditation!
5. Both essential oils are excellent for your immune system.
I already mentioned that both high in antioxidants and are anti-inflammatory. So it just goes to reason that they would both be great at helping to ward off colds and flu.
6. I love their backstory!
I love the fact that they have been used for over 5000 years. The Egyptians used them. The Chinese used them. They have been used for their scent, for their healing properties. Myrrh was used to help preserve the dead. Back in Jesus time they were considered more valuable than gold and so it makes sense that they were given as gifts by the Magi. When you use frankincense and myrrh you are reaching back into history and bringing it forward. I love that.
Which brings me to one of my favorite things about Frankincense & Myrrh products. They make GREAT gifts anytime of year, but especially at Christmas time. Don’t get me wrong. Shop now and make someone happy.
We also created Frankincense & Myrrh Soap and Body Butter. You can purchase it separately or as part of our Frankincense & Myrrh Bundle which gets you a break on the price.
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Frankincense and Myrrh Key Points
- These are essential oils that have been used and valued by people for centuries upon centuries.
- If this is an essential oil that resonates with you I would definitely give it a try.
- Consider some of these items as gifts for someone special on your list.
- The value of any item can go up and down but remember that at one point in history these resins were worth more than gold. If you do decide to try them, use them and value them for how special they are and how they can benefit you!