Myrrh is an aromatic gum resin tapped from Commiphora trees in the Horn of Africa and southern Arabia. It smells bitter, warm and balsamic, with a distinctive earthy, slightly mushroomy and medicinal edge, and has been used as incense and perfume for thousands of years.

What does Myrrh smell like?

Myrrh is darker and more austere than most resins. It combines bittersweet balsam with notes of liquorice, anise, damp earth and a cool, almost medicinal quality, often compared to the inside of an old church. Unlike the fresh, citrusy lift of frankincense or the honeyed sweetness of opoponax, it has a dry, contemplative character. The essential oil is sharper and more aromatic; the resinoid is heavier and warmer.

Where Myrrh comes from

Myrrh comes chiefly from Commiphora myrrha, a thorny tree of the dry lands of Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya, Yemen and Oman. Harvesters cut the bark, and the pale yellow sap slowly hardens into reddish tears that are collected by hand. Perfumers use steam-distilled oil, resinoids and CO2 extracts.

• Also known as: Common myrrh, Commiphora myrrha, heerabol myrrh
• Fragrance family: Amber (resinous)
• Type: Natural
• Main origins: Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya, Yemen and Oman
• How it's obtained: Tapping of bark; steam distillation or solvent extraction of the resin
• Key aroma molecules: Furanoeudesma-1,3-diene, curzerene, lindestrene

Myrrh in perfume history

Myrrh was central to ancient Egyptian incense and embalming practices and to kyphi, the Egyptian temple perfume. It was traded along the frankincense routes of Arabia, is named several times in the Bible, and is one of the three gifts of the Magi. In Western perfumery it became a classic material for dark ambers and incense themes, famously explored in Serge Lutens La Myrrhe.

Myrrh in modern perfumery

Myrrh is widely used in niche perfumery, especially in incense, amber and oud-inspired compositions, and in smaller doses in mainstream ambery scents. Wild harvesting in the Horn of Africa means supply and price can be affected by drought and conflict.

How Myrrh wears and what it pairs with

Myrrh is a base note with a long, dry trail. It pairs naturally with frankincense, rose, oud, labdanum, benzoin, vanilla, patchouli and spices such as cinnamon.

Fragrances featuring Myrrh

• Serge Lutens La Myrrhe (1995)
• Annick Goutal Myrrhe Ardente (2007)
• Guerlain Myrrhe et Délires (2012)