Myrrh

Group: Resins and Balsams

COMMON NAME:
Myrrh, mur, moyao (in Chinese)  

PLANT FAMILY:
Burseraceae  

GENUS: Commiphora  

SPECIES:
There are various species, the most common amongst them are Commiphora myrrha, C.gileadensis syn.Commiphora opobalsamum.  

USES:
Used as incense material,
medicine and perfume

For centuries, whenever there has been a mention of Frankincense, Myrrh has been the one to be written next to it. Myrrh, like frankincense, has always been consumed in large quantities, both in the preparation of domestic and religious incense, in perfumed oils and as medicine, and was at periods prized much higher than Frankincense. In medical terms, myrrh has antiseptic and sedative properties. It has been mentioned in Egyptian medical texts, and in ancient Egypt it was also used for embalming alongside Frankincense.

The word mör or mur, from which myrrh is derived, means "bitter." The word probably comes from old Hebrew and Arabic. Aroma of Myrrh can be described as woody, warm, aromatic and pungent, and slightly medicinal. Like Frankincense, it is an aromatic oleo-gum-resin (Oleoresin: a natural blend of essential oil and resin). It comes from various species of the genus Commiphora of the plant family . Commiphora is a genus of flowering plants. Species in this genus have thorny and armed trees and shrubs which are native to northeast Africa and the adjacent areas of the Arabian Peninsula.

Commiphora myrrha is the species which is commonly used in the production of myrrh. It is found in the shallow, rocky soils of Ethiopia, Kenya, Oman, Saudi Arabia and Somalia. It boasts spiny branches with scanty leaves that grow in groups of three, and can reach a height of 9 feet. Another species, Commiphora gileadensis, which is also known as balsam of Mecca or Balm of Gilead, is native to the Arabian Peninsula and has been used in the diseases of urinary tract. Its odor is faintly woody, oily-sweet and balsamic. Some other species are Commiphora erythraea, which is one of the species of opoponax, and Commiphora wightii (Mukul, Guggul), also known as Indian bdellium. It is distributed in arid areas of Bangladesh, India and Pakistan, and its use in the treatment of diseases occupies an important place in Ayurveda, the traditional medicine system of India.

BITTER MYRRH and SWEET MYRRH

There is a close connection between myrrh and opoponax since both come from the genus Commiphora, hence sharing a lot of similar characteristics. However, talking of their aroma, they are like the two end points of a line. Myrrh is bitter while opoponax is sweet and a bit more pleasant and that's the reason it usually referred to as sweet myrrh.

HARVEST and CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS

Tapping is the method to extract resins which is done twice a year. To extract resins, an incision is made in the trunk of the tree, which pierces gum resin reservoirs located in it. The incisions are made all the way up from the root to those of the branches that are strong enough to bear it. The sap slowly oozes from the incisions and drips down the bark, forming tear-shaped droplets that are left to harden on the side of the tree. These droplets flow as pale yellow liquid, but harden to reddish-brown masses of many sizes, the average being that of a walnut.

These hardened beads like droplets are then collected after two weeks. Myrrh is said to be of good quality if it comes in small pieces of irregular shape, the surface is rough and powdered, the pieces are brittle and show white marks like fingernails when they are broken.

Chemical constituents are volatile oil, resin (myrrhin), gum, ash, salts, sulphates, benzoates, malates, and acetates of potassa. Resinous materials like Frankincense and Myrrh are used either to make essential oil or resin absolute. The oil is extracted by steam distillation and the absolute by alcohol extraction.

MYRRH in FRAGRANCES

The myrrh note is best used in oriental fragrances and complements well, with a little darkness, the luminous and cheerful characteristics of the oriental vibe. Myrrhiad by perfumer Pierre Guillaume is all about myrrh. It has been made with three more notes to complement which are licorice, vanilla and black tea absolute.

PERFUMES:

Myrrhiad Huitieme Art Parfums
Myrrhe Ardente Annick Goutal
Frankincense and Myrrh Czech & Speake
Myrrhe & Merveilles Keiko Mecheri
Myrrhae L`Erbolario
No10 Myrrhe Prada
Frankincense - Myrrh - Rose Maroc Regina Harris
La Myrrhe Serge Lutens