Myrrh

Myrrh is an aromatic gum resin obtained from Commiphora trees. Its bitter, warm scent has made it a material for incense, perfumery, traditional remedies, and embalming.

Incense: Incense is aromatic material burned to release fragrant smoke. Burning myrrh as incense releases its characteristic scent in religious and domestic settings.
Plant resin: Plant resin is a complex secretion produced by plants, often in response to injury or stress. Myrrh is a resinous exudate that hardens after emerging from Commiphora bark.
Burseraceae: Burseraceae is a family of flowering plants that includes many resin-producing tropical trees and shrubs. Commiphora, the source genus of myrrh, belongs to this family.
Three Wise Men: The Three Wise Men are figures in the Gospel of Matthew who bring gifts to the infant Jesus. The Gospel names myrrh among the gifts, linking the resin to Christian nativity traditions.
Perfumery: Perfumery is the art and practice of creating fragrances from aromatic materials. Myrrh contributes a warm, bitter note to perfumes and fragrance accords.
Gum: Plant gum is a water-soluble polysaccharide exudate that swells or dissolves in water. Myrrh contains gum alongside resin, contributing to its mixed material character.
Somalia: Somalia is a country in the Horn of Africa with a long history of aromatic-resin production and trade. Somalia is a major source of commercial myrrh.
Gospel of Matthew: The Gospel of Matthew is a canonical Christian account of the life and teachings of Jesus. Its account of the Magi names myrrh as one of their gifts.
Embalming: Embalming is the treatment of a body to delay decomposition, often for preservation or burial. Myrrh was among the aromatic substances used in ancient Egyptian funerary preparation.
Terpenes: Terpenes are a large class of compounds built from isoprene units, many of which occur in plant aromas. Volatile terpenes contribute to myrrh’s distinctive fragrance.

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