Myrrh is a fragrant resin from Commiphora trees. It's used as incense, in religious rites and anointing oils, in traditional medicine, in mouthwashes and skincare, and as a base note in perfume. In the ancient world it was also used for embalming and traded like gold.
Myrrh is the reddish resin I reach for when I want a room to feel quiet and serious. People have burned it, swallowed it, rubbed it on wounds and wrapped their dead in it for thousands of years. That's a long résumé for a lump of tree sap. Here's what it's actually used for, sorted by type, with honest notes on what's tradition and what's evidence.
If you want the full story, start with what is myrrh. The short version follows.
Myrrh mostly comes from Commiphora myrrha, a scrubby, thorny tree native to Somalia, Ethiopia, Yemen and Oman. Harvesters cut the bark, the tree bleeds a pale sap, and it hardens into lumpy "tears." There's more on harvesting and grading in what myrrh is made from.
They're cousins in the same plant family, but different genera: myrrh is Commiphora, frankincense is Boswellia. Frankincense smells bright and lemony. Myrrh is darker, bitter and earthy, with a medicinal edge.
Most people who buy myrrh today burn it. If you're new to any of this, read up on how to light incense first, because resin behaves differently from a stick.
The classic method: light a charcoal disc in a heatproof burner filled with sand, wait until it's coated in grey ash, then add a pea-sized piece of resin. Keep a window cracked. Myrrh smokes heavily, and it's easy to overdo. If you've never done this, our guide to burning resin incense on charcoal walks through it.
Ground myrrh gets mixed into powder with a binder and pressed into cones or sticks. For backflow cone incense, you want a resin-rich blend, because that's what gives the dense, heavy smoke that pours down the burner like water. I don't stock a straight myrrh cone right now, but Sandalwood Wild Berry Backflow Cones in a Mini Lotus Backflow Burner sit nicely next to a myrrh tear on charcoal.
Myrrh is a great anchor. It pairs well with frankincense (the old classic), copal and sandalwood. On its own I find it a bit stern. With a pinch of frankincense, it softens.
Warm, bitter-sweet, slightly medicinal, like an old church on a cold morning. For the full breakdown, see what myrrh smells like.
Myrrh shows up at both ends of the Gospel story. The Magi brought "gold, and frankincense, and myrrh" (Matthew 2:11). It was the first ingredient listed for the holy anointing oil in Exodus 30:23. And at the burial of Jesus, Nicodemus brought "a mixture of myrrh and aloes" (John 19:39).
Orthodox and Catholic churches still burn myrrh in thurible blends, usually with frankincense. That swinging censer smell is partly myrrh.
Today, people use myrrh for purification, grounding and meditation, often around grief or big transitions. These are traditions, not proven effects, and I treat them that way. I keep a tear of it on my altar shelf, and I burn it when I'm praying for someone who's passed. It feels right. For more, see myrrh's spiritual meaning and ritual use and the wider spiritual uses of incense.
Herodotus, in Book II of his Histories, describes Egyptian embalmers filling the body cavity with pure ground myrrh and other spices. Myrrh was also an ingredient in kyphi, the Egyptian temple incense burned at dusk.
Myrrh traveled the Incense Route out of southern Arabia and the Horn of Africa, and at times it was worth about as much as gold. Queen Hatshepsut even sent an expedition to the land of Punt to bring back myrrh trees.
Pliny the Elder, in Book XII of his Natural History, wrote about grading myrrh by quality. Dioscorides listed it for wounds and sores, and it's often said that Greek soldiers carried it into battle for wound care.
This is history and tradition, not medical advice.
In TCM, myrrh is called mò yào and was traditionally used to "move blood" and ease pain, very often paired with frankincense (rǔ xiāng).
Ayurvedic and Middle Eastern folk healers traditionally used myrrh for wounds, digestion and swelling.
Review articles indexed on PubMed Central describe antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activity, but mostly in lab and animal studies. According to Memorial Sloan Kettering, good human evidence is limited. So: interesting, not settled.
This is myrrh's most established remedy use. The European Medicines Agency's herbal monograph recognizes myrrh tincture as a traditional herbal medicine for mild inflammation of the mouth and gums. You'll still see it in some natural toothpastes.
People add myrrh oil to creams for dry or mature skin. Always dilute it in a carrier oil and patch-test first.
Perfumers use myrrh as a base note in amber and oriental scents, where it adds depth and a slightly bitter warmth. In aromatherapy, a few drops in a diffuser is common. And yes, you've probably tasted it: under US FDA rules (21 CFR 172.510), myrrh is permitted as a natural flavoring in small amounts, sometimes in bitters and liqueurs.
Here's a quick comparison. For step-by-step methods and dilution details, see our step-by-step guide to using myrrh.
| Form | Best use | How to use | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raw resin | Ritual, meditation | Pea-sized piece on charcoal | Needs a resin burner or incense holder |
| Powder | Custom blends | Mix with other resins or herbs | Burn on charcoal or a heater |
| Cones | Easy everyday scent | Light the tip, blow out flame | Backflow cones need a backflow burner |
| Essential oil | Diffuser, skincare | A few drops in a diffuser, or diluted 1 to 2% | Never swallow it |
| Tincture | Traditional mouth rinse | A few drops in water | Follow product directions |
According to Memorial Sloan Kettering, myrrh may interact with blood thinners like warfarin and with diabetes medications, and it's traditionally avoided during pregnancy because it was considered a uterine stimulant. Talk to your doctor if any of that applies to you. Never ingest essential oil. Ventilate when you burn resin, keep smoke and oils away from pets, and go easy if you have asthma or sensitive lungs.
What was myrrh used for in biblical times? Anointing oil, perfume, burial spices and as a royal gift.
What is myrrh good for? Mostly incense and atmosphere. Traditionally, it's also used in mouth rinses, skincare and folk remedies for pain and wounds.
What does myrrh do spiritually? In many traditions it's linked to purification, grounding, and mourning or transition rituals. That's belief, not measured effect.
How do you use myrrh resin? Burn small pieces on charcoal, grind it into loose blends, or buy a ready-made tincture.
What does myrrh smell like? Does it smell good? Earthy, bitter-sweet and resinous. I love it, but it's not sugary. More in what myrrh smells like.
Is myrrh a spice? Not really. It was traded alongside spices and is allowed as a flavoring in tiny amounts, but you won't cook with it.
What's the difference between frankincense and myrrh? Different genera. Frankincense is bright and citrusy, myrrh is darker and bitter. Myrrh leans more toward medicinal and funeral use historically.
Is burning myrrh safe? Generally, with care: ventilate, keep it away from pets, and skip it if you're pregnant or have breathing problems.
What color is myrrh? Reddish-brown to amber tears that darken as they age.
Can you put myrrh oil directly on skin? No. Dilute it to 1 to 2% in a carrier oil and patch-test first.
Myrrh has done a bit of everything: temple smoke, burial spice, gum remedy, perfume base. For most of us now, it's best enjoyed as incense, burned slowly with a window open. If it's a little too somber for your taste, browse our other incense scents and find something to pair with it.
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