Biblical Essential Oils

Oil was a valuable commodity in the ancient world. It was used for cooking, lighting, and medicinal purposes as well as for religious, ritual, and sacramental purposes. Throughout the Bible, oil is seen as having both immense spiritual and practical significance. It is a symbol of the Holy Spirit and a reminder of God’s faithfulness. It played an especially important role in the everyday life of God’s people.

In the Bible, oil is often used as a symbol of God’s blessing and presence through anointing and rituals. In the Old Testament, for example, oil was used to consecrate priests and kings, heal the sick, and bless homes. In the New Testament, Jesus himself is anointed with oil at his baptism. The meaning of oil in the Bible can vary depending on its context, but it generally symbolizes purity, healing, and strength.

At least thirty-three specific essential oils and aromatic oil-producing plants are mentioned in the Bible, and the word “incense” is mentioned sixty-eight times in Scripture.

Psalm 45:7-8 King James Version 7 Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. 8 All thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia, out of the ivory palaces, whereby they have made thee glad.

-- Psalm 45:7-8 King James Version 7

You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.”

--Hebrews 1:9

Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart and the pleasantness of a friend

springs from their heartfelt advice.

--Proverbs 27:9

And provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise

instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor.

--Isaiah 61:3

Essential oils are also referred to in the Bible as fragrances, odors, ointments, aromas, perfumes, and sweet savors. In total, there are over six hundred references to essential oils and/or the aromatic plants from which they were extracted in the Bible.

I have curated a list of the twelve most revered essential oils in the Bible and their historic uses.

1. Frankincense

Frankincense is the king of the oils. It was used as a primary component of the holy incense, a medicine, and a currency — and of course, it was a gift from the wise men to baby Jesus. In fact, at the time of Jesus’ birth, both frankincense and myrrh may have been worth more than their weight in the third gift: gold.

2. Myrrh

Quoted in Scripture 156 times, uses of myrrh oil in the Bible included use as an ointment, an incense, an embalming ingredient and as a skin beauty treatment by Queen Esther in Esther 2:12. By far, myrrh’s most common usage in the Bible is as a part of holy anointing oil.

Now when every maid's turn was come to go in to King Ahasuerus, after that she had been twelve months, according to the manner of the women, (for so were the days of their purifications accomplished, to wit, six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet odors, and with other things for the purifying of the women. (“Esther 2:12 - Esther Finds Favor - Bible Hub”)

-Esther 2:12

3. Cinnamon

Like myrrh, cinnamon oil was a chief ingredient in holy anointing oil and used to cleanse the air, kill mold and act as a natural medicine. In Proverbs 7:17, Solomon uses this aromatic oil in the bedroom and as a natural perfume or cologne.

"I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon." (“Proverbs 7:17 I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, with aloes, and with ...”)

--Proverbs 7:17

4. Cedarwood

King Solomon used cedarwood in building God’s temple and Jesus was crucified on a cross made of cedarwood or cypress. It was thought to bring wisdom, was used for ritual cleansing, and served as medicine in treating skin conditions and leprosy.

5. Spikenard

In Biblical times, “nard” was not only an expensive perfume but also a precious ointment that was used as medicine. Interestingly, the “spikenard” used in the Bible may have in fact been lavender oil. In John 12:3, the Bible tells how spikenard was used to anoint Jesus just days before His death and resurrection.

Then Mary took about a pint of pure spikenard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of perfume.

-John 12:3

6. Hyssop

In the Old Testament, God commanded His people to use hyssop in the ceremonial cleansing of people and houses. Hyssop appears at Jesus’ crucifixion, when the Roman soldiers offered Jesus a drink of wine vinegar on a sponge at the end of a stalk of hyssop.

7. Cassia

An herb very similar to cinnamon, cassia oil is the fourth ingredient listed in the holy anointing oil detailed in Exodus 30:24. It may have been brought out of Egypt when the Israelites fled Pharaoh and was commonly used with myrrh and aloes to scent garments.

500 shekels of cassia—all according to the sanctuary shekel—and a hint[a] of olive oil.

--Exodus 30:24

8. Sandalwood (Aloes)

In Scripture, sandalwood is referred to as “aloes” and is called one of the oils of joy and gladness along with frankincense, myrrh and cedarwood. Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea brought sandalwood (aloes) and myrrh to bury Jesus, and in today’s market, the amount of oils used would be worth an estimated $200,000.

9. Cypress

Cypress is celebrated in Scripture as a symbol of strength, security, and prosperity. The Bible mentions cypress as the choice wood for building, trading and even weaponry. In Genesis 6:14, God commanded Noah to “make yourself an ark of gopher wood,” which in modern English is in fact “cypress.”

10. Galbanum

Galbanum is a main ingredient of the holy incense used in the heart of the temple in Exodus 30:34. Interestingly, although galbanum itself has a somewhat foul odor, when burned with other sweet-smelling oils in holy incense, it has the most beautiful scent and was thought to balance the emotions.

Then the LORD said to Moses, “Take fragrant spices—gum resin, onycha and galbanum—and pure frankincense, all in equal amounts,

-Exodus 30:34

11. Rose of Sharon

Mentioned in the Song of Solomon, the Rose of Sharon is not really a “rose” but instead it is similar to the hibiscus or tulip (which is also a source of saffron).

I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valley. I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys. I am the spring crocus blooming on the Sharon Plain, the lily of the valley. Young Man I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys. I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valley.

--Song of Solomon 2:1

12. Calamus

Also known as “sweet cane,” calamus is an ancient herb that is perhaps what we now know as lemongrass. In Biblical times, calamus was used in perfumes, incense and as an ingredient in the special holy anointing oil used by the priests in the temple.

- Julie O'Hara 2023

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