



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
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
Gucci Gucci Pour Homme II
2007 for men
Yves Saint Laurent Opium
1977 for women
Calvin Klein Euphoria Men Intense
2008 for men
Dior Fahrenheit Absolute
2009 for men
Guerlain Vetiver
2000 for men
Donna Karan DKNY Delicious Night
2008 for women
Calvin Klein Obsession for Men
1986 for men
Jesus Del Pozo Halloween
1997 for women
Avon Christian Lacroix Absynthe
2009 for women
Dior Bois D`argent
2004 for women and men
David & Victoria Beckham Intimately Beckham Night
2007 for women
Laura Biagiotti Roma
1988 for women
Aramis Aramis
1966 for men
Serge Lutens Ambre Sultan
2000 for women
Estée Lauder Bronze Goddess Eau Fraîche Skinscent
2008 for women
Pierre Balmain Ambre Gris
2008 for women
Giorgio Armani Gio
1992 for women
Oscar de la Renta Oscar
1977 for women
Lolita Lempicka Midnight
2006 for women
Robert Piguet Bandit
1944 for women
Prada Prada Amber Pour Homme Intense
2011 for men
L Artisan Parfumeur Timbuktu
2004 for women and men
Lolita Lempicka Eau de Minuit - Midnight Fragrance
2009 for women
Karl Lagerfeld KL
1983 for women
Valentino Rock`n Dreams
2009 for women
Yves Saint Laurent Opium
2009 for women
Yves Rocher Voile d'Ambre
2005 for women
Kate Walsh Boyfriend
2010 for women
Comme des Garcons Comme des Garcons Series 3 Incense: Avignon
for women and men
Caron Parfum Sacre
1991 for women
Annick Goutal Grand Amour
1996 for women
Salvador Dali Salvador Dali
1985 for women
Givenchy Givenchy III
1970 for women
Lolita Lempicka Star Dust Midnight Fragrance
2005 for women
Estée Lauder Bronze Goddess 2011
2011 for women
Jil Sander Jil Sander No 4
1990 for women
Serge Lutens Datura Noir
2001 for women
Estée Lauder Bronze Goddess Eau Fraiche 2010
2010 for women
Estée Lauder Aliage
1972 for women
Ralph Lauren Polo Modern Reserve
2008 for men
Amouage Amouage Epic Man
2009 for men
La Prairie Life Threads Gold
2009 for women
Agent Provocateur L'Agent
2011 for women
Amouage Amouage Gold pour Femme
1983 for women
Norell Norell
1968 for women
Lolita Lempicka L`Eau de Minuit Edition 2008
2008 for women
Estée Lauder Azuree Soleil Eau Fraiche Skinscent
2007 for women
Revlon Ciara
1973 for women
Nina Ricci Les Belles de Ricci Belle de Minuit
2000 for women
Frederic Malle Vetiver Extraordinaire
2002 for men
Hugo Boss Boss In Motion Black
2006 for men
Paloma Picasso Tentations
1996 for women
Isabella Rossellini Daring
2004 for women
Lolita Lempicka L`eau de Minuit
2004 for women
Annick Goutal Myrrhe Ardente
2007 for women and men
Estée Lauder Intuition for Men
2003 for men
Versace Gianni Versace
1981 for women
Jil Sander Jil Sander Man
2007 for men
Avon Occur!
1963 for women
Avon Mesmerize
1992 for men
Alexander McQueen Kingdom Summer
2006 for women
L`Occitane en Provence Eau d'Iparie
for women
Giorgio Beverly Hills Red
1989 for women
Hermes Parfum d`Hermes
1984 for women
Yves Saint Laurent Opium Secret de Parfum
2003 for women
Jo Malone Amber & Lavender
1995 for men
Molyneux Vivre
1971 for women
Yves Saint Laurent Opium Poesie de Chine pour Femme
2008 for women
Amouage Jubilation for Women
2008 for women
Carven Vetiver
1957 for men
Avon Mesmerize for Women
1992 for women
L Artisan Parfumeur Al Oudh
2009 for women and men
Etro Messe de Minuit
1994 for women and men
Etro Shaal Nur
1997 for women
Escada Escada Sport Feeling Free
for women and men
Yves Saint Laurent Opium Fleur Imperiale
2006 for women
Amouage Amouage Gold pour Homme
1998 for men
Annayake Miyako
2005 for women
Joop! Joop! Nuit d`Ete
1990 for women
Popular brands and perfumes: