Myrrh

What Does It Smell Like?

Myrrh smells like incense and ancient temples—warm, slightly smoky, and deeply resinous. Imagine the dusty sweetness of aged wood combined with a subtle bitterness, like burnt honey with a whisper of medicinal earthiness. There's a dry, almost leathery quality that coats your mouth when you breathe it in. It's not bright or cheerful; rather, it feels ceremonial and contemplative, reminiscent of the aroma rising from a church censer or the lingering scent in a spice merchant's shop.

Origin & History

Myrrh comes from the resinous sap of *Commiphora myrrha*, a gnarled tree native to the Arabian Peninsula and East Africa. When the bark is wounded, it bleeds a precious resin that hardens into amber-coloured droplets. Historically harvested in Yemen and Somalia, myrrh has been treasured for millennia—burned in religious ceremonies and used in embalming. Today, both natural resin and synthetic recreations (isolates like "Iso E Super" blends) are used; the natural version offers complexity that synthetics struggle to capture.

In Perfumery

Myrrh functions as a sophisticated base note and fixative, lending depth and longevity. Perfumers employ it to add warmth, mystery, and a slightly animalic character. It grounds compositions with gravitas and complements orientals, ambers, and woody fragrances beautifully, creating a sense of ritual and introspection.

Pairs Beautifully With

Featured In 185 Fragrances