Why Frankincense and Myrrh? The Wise Men's Gifts Explained

Every December, the same question arises: why on earth would the wise men bring a baby tree sap? It turns out the gift list was more practical, and much more valuable, than it sounds. Pour a cup of something warm and let's dig in.

Why These Two? The Wise Men's Gift List

The story comes from a single verse about visitors arriving from the East bearing gifts for baby Jesus. Matthew 2:11 (NIV):

On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

The Gospel doesn't say how many visitors there were or call them kings. The number three comes from the three gifts, and the crowns came later in tradition.

So why those gifts?

Gold was the obvious treasure, but frankincense and myrrh were nearly as precious. They were the luxury goods of their day, used as incense, perfume, and medicine. Both resins were painstakingly harvested by hand in remote, rocky desert regions, then carried for months along ancient trade routes before being sold for serious money in the markets of Egypt, Rome, and beyond.

Symbolism has been layered onto the gifts for nearly two thousand years. The traditional reading is that gold honors a king, frankincense (burned in temples) honors the sacred, and myrrh (used in anointing and burial) points to mortality. You'll find other interpretations too, but these are the most often handed down.

It's also a lovely reminder that humans have been using aromatic resins to mark special moments for millennia. Anointing with fragrant oils is one of the oldest ceremonial practices we have.

My Oil of 1000 Blessings carries on that tradition. It's a special holiday oil that I make the old-fashioned way: whole resins of frankincense, myrrh, and benzoin, plus numerous other herbs and roots, steeped in olive oil for months and months. Whether used for meditation, to anoint, or as a natural perfume, its heavenly aroma can transport one back to ancient days of sun and stone.

I burn pure frankincense resin in my home daily, and myrrh when I am feeling under the weather. Frankincense lifts my spirits and makes me feel "lighter" in every way.

Frankincense vs. Myrrh: Same Neighborhood, Different Jobs

The two resins are botanical cousins. Frankincense comes from Boswellia trees and myrrh from Commiphora trees, and both genera sit in the incense-tree family, Burseraceae. Both are native to the hot, dry, rocky lands of northeast Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, and the genera are common in Somalia and Ethiopia.

So yes, the trees really do live in the same neighborhood, and the gifts could have come from a single trading caravan.

One of my main resin suppliers recently shared with me an observation from his worldwide travels in search of the finest resins. Whenever he comes upon a frankincense tree, there is always a myrrh tree in eyeshot, without exception. I find that fascinating.

Why Sourcing Matters

Frankincense and myrrh trees pay a price for our affections.

Frankincense trees are wild-growing and slow, and the threat to them is serious. A 2019 study of Boswellia papyrifera, the species behind roughly two-thirds of the world's frankincense, projected that its populations could fall by about half within 20 years. The researchers found no young trees in more than half of the populations they surveyed. Grazing livestock eat the saplings, fires sweep through, and older trees are tapped so heavily that they die (Bongers et al., 2019).

My suppliers tell me the same story from the ground. A tree may be old enough to tap at around 10 years, but it takes another 10 to 15 years before it is truly productive. Every tree lost takes decades to replace, and there are fewer frankincense trees than myrrh.

Tapping a frankincense tree involves carefully inflicting a small wound from which it can heal, and over-tapping can kill it. There is a fine line between the two.

The tremendous popularity of essential oils has placed immense strain on frankincense trees because it takes a large volume of resin to produce a small quantity of essential oil. Many companies discard the spent resin, a wasteful practice, especially considering that this post-distillation resin still contains those prized boswellic acids.

Authenticity is another concern. You really can't identify frankincense by looking at it. Resin from different regions smells different, and even resin from the same tree smells different from one year to the next. Substitutions and counterfeits exist, and an inexperienced buyer can't reliably tell the difference.

For all of these reasons and more, sourcing really does matter. I buy my frankincense and myrrh products from eco-friendly companies that are conservative in their harvesting and use the resin to its fullest.

The Frankincense Lottery (and the Myrrh Surprise)

This year, I decided to attempt to grow a frankincense and myrrh tree myself, on my kitchen windowsill, the frankincense from seed and the myrrh from a cutting. This was a bit daunting for someone living in the Pacific Northwest. I mean, we're not exactly Somalia.

I figured my odds were about one percent, but a friend gifted me some Boswellia sacra seeds (and fresh ones aren't cheap), so why not?

Boswellia sacra seeds are notorious for low germination. In one study, only about 2 to 17 percent of seeds from different trees passed a viability test, and fewer than 9 percent of the seeds from the best tree sprouted (Swartout & Solowey, 2018). A 2022 paper also describes B. sacra as well known for low germination, at 4 to 16 percent (Hamdiah et al., 2022).

The seeds were actually five years old, but had been stored in a cool, dry place. The cuttings were fresh from her myrrh tree, mailed to me in a box.

I planted 30 seeds and four myrrh cuttings. I invested in a grow light and a heated seed mat, which I was advised needed to be set to a toasty 90 degrees Fahrenheit for Boswellia germination. Sadly, no Boswellia seeds came up. I babied them for 90 days. However, much to my surprise, after about a month one of the myrrh sprigs formed a teeny little green speck. And then another! Within a week, the tiny leaf buds were undeniable.

I don't know if the baby myrrh tree will make it through the winter because it's now been weaned off the heated mat, and my house is at the lower end of temps the species can tolerate. Fingers crossed.

I didn't win the frankincense lottery but I feel like I won the myrrh!

One of four myrrh cuttings made it. Kitchen windowsill setup on June 20, first bud on July 19, and a repotted baby tree on September 4, 2026. Photos by Val.

Traditional Uses and What the Research Says

In the West, frankincense and myrrh were mostly burned as incense in religious and cultural ceremonies. Further east it was a different story.

According to a review retrieved from PubMed, traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine used both resins mainly for long-standing health concerns, and in traditional Chinese medicine the two have been used together for thousands of years (Cao et al., 2019). A separate review of the myrrh genus notes that traditional Chinese, Ayurvedic, and Arabic medicine all valued it for things like injuries and joint discomfort (Yang et al., 2024).

What about modern science? The honest answer is that it's early and mostly laboratory-based. Both resins are rich in terpenoids, and laboratory studies reveal anti-inflammatory activities.

In frankincense, the compounds that get the most attention are the boswellic acids, especially AKBA (acetyl-11-keto-β-boswellic acid) and its close relative KBA. These two are used as quality markers for Boswellia resin extracts. Animal studies and pilot clinical trials of Boswellia extracts have been encouraging, particularly for inflammatory conditions, although larger human trials are still needed (Abdel-Tawab et al., 2011). Myrrh's warm, bitter character comes from its own terpenoid compounds.

Perhaps the most fascinating finding was that when researchers compared frankincense and myrrh, they found that blending the two changes the chemical makeup of the mixture. The combination appears to act more strongly than either resin alone (Cao et al., 2019).

That's a fascinating finding, although a long way from proof of how it works in people. Lab and animal findings may not always carry over to humans, and large human trials of this dynamic duo are lacking.

These synergistic benefits are not surprising when you consider one of the primary principles of plant medicine: plants seem to possess wisdom greater than our own. They grow where they are needed, in the season they're needed. Plants that work well together often grow in pairs. It's a synergistic relationship that we don't really need to understand, only recognize and appreciate.

The corollary: many herbalists and other practitioners (myself included) believe that plants offer their greatest benefits when used in their entirety, as close as possible to how they occur in nature. Think about whole foods. It is the synergism of all the "pieces and parts" that optimizes the benefit. This is why I'm such a believer in the benefits of resin oils (and whole herb infused oils), more than isolated compounds.

For a deeper dive on frankincense, including human studies, see my article Frankincense for Inflammation: Does It Really Work?

Please note: these statements have not been evaluated by the FDA, and these products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Resin Oil vs. Essential Oil, and a Gift Guide

Here is the distinction I always make. A frankincense essential oil is steam distilled from the resin. It is wonderfully aromatic, but the heavier compounds, including the boswellic acids, don't travel through steam distillation.

A frankincense resin oil is made differently, with the resin itself extracted into the oil so it carries all those compounds along. Both have their place. It depends on whether you want primarily the aroma, or you're after the full synergism of compounds available in the resin.

For the gift list:

• A resin oil for daily rituals: Frankincense Oil | 70% Boswellic Acid Extract is my flagship, made with organic Boswellia carterii extract.
• The pairing itself: Frankincense & Myrrh Salve brings both resins together in a single jar.
• A holiday anointing oil: Oil of 1000 Blessings is a limited-edition seasonal oil for ceremony and gifting.
• For a lovely frankincense aroma: try the Carterii Frankincense Essential Oil or the Sacra Hojari Frankincense Essential Oil for diffusing.

A few safety notes: Do a small patch test before using any new oil, and keep oils away from your eyes. Dilute essential oils in a carrier oil before they touch your skin. If you are pregnant or nursing, take medications, or have a health condition (diabetes included), check with your healthcare provider before using frankincense or myrrh products.

A note for pet lovers: cats in particular are sensitive to essential oils, so keep diffusers and oils out of reach, ventilate well, and check with your veterinarian before using any aromatics around your animals.

❓Frequently Asked Questions

Why did the wise men bring frankincense and myrrh?

They were precious ancient trade goods used as incense, perfume, and traditional remedies. Tradition also reads them symbolically: frankincense for the sacred, myrrh for mortality.

What is the difference between frankincense and myrrh?

Frankincense comes from Boswellia trees and myrrh from Commiphora trees. They are cousins in the same plant family, with different aromas and traditional uses.

Do frankincense and myrrh grow in the same places?

Both genera are native to the hot, dry regions of northeast Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, and are common in Somalia and Ethiopia.

What were frankincense and myrrh used for traditionally?

Both were burned as incense and used in perfume and anointing. In traditional Chinese, Ayurvedic, and Arabic medicine they were also used as traditional remedies.

Is there research on frankincense and myrrh together?

Yes, but it is early. In laboratory studies, combining the two resins changed their chemistry and appeared to enhance some activities. Human studies of the pair are still needed.

What are the main compounds in frankincense and myrrh?

Frankincense is best known for its boswellic acids, including AKBA (acetyl-11-keto-β-boswellic acid), which are among the most studied compounds in Boswellia resin. Myrrh is rich in terpenoids that give it its warm, bitter aroma. Research on both is promising but still early, and much of it comes from laboratory and animal studies.

Is frankincense endangered?

A 2019 study projected that Boswellia papyrifera, which supplies about two-thirds of the world's frankincense, could decline by about half within 20 years. Overharvesting, fire, and livestock grazing are the main pressures, so buying from suppliers who harvest conservatively really matters.

Is frankincense safe to use?

Patch-test any new oil, dilute essential oils in a carrier oil, and keep aromatics away from pets. If you are pregnant or nursing, take medications, or have a health condition such as diabetes, check with your healthcare provider first.

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References

1. Cao B, Wei XC, Xu XR, et al. Seeing the unseen of the combination of two natural resins, frankincense and myrrh: changes in chemical constituents and pharmacological activities. Molecules. 2019;24(17):3076. doi:10.3390/molecules24173076
2. Yang Y, Sun X, Peng C, Wei J, Yang X. The genus Commiphora: an overview of its traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and quality control. Pharmaceuticals (Basel). 2024;17(11):1524. doi:10.3390/ph17111524
3. University of Illinois Extension. The origin of frankincense and myrrh add to their special meaning.
4. Swartout BT, Solowey E. Increasing Boswellia sacra seeds' germination viability and genetic variability utilizing various methods. Net J Agric Sci. 2018;6(3):29-34. doi:10.30918/NJAS.63.18.017
5. Hamdiah S, Karas L, Houšková K, et al. Seed viability and potential germination rate of nine endemic Boswellia taxa (Burseraceae) from Socotra Island (Yemen). Plants (Basel). 2022;11(11):1418. doi:10.3390/plants11111418
6. Bongers F, Groenendijk P, Bekele T, et al. Frankincense in peril. Nat Sustain. 2019;2:602-610. doi:10.1038/s41893-019-0322-2
7. Abdel-Tawab M, Werz O, Schubert-Zsilavecz M. Boswellia serrata: an overall assessment of in vitro, preclinical, pharmacokinetic and clinical data. Clin Pharmacokinet. 2011;50(6):349-369. doi:10.2165/11586800-000000000-00000
8. Matthew 2:11 (NIV)

Studies were located through PubMed. Please note: these statements have not been evaluated by the FDA, and these products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Header illustration created with AI.