Ingredient

Myrrh Resinoid (Commiphora Myrrha)

Commiphora myrrha

Myrrh resinoid and oil have a spicy, amberous and earthy aroma that adds a warm and decadent note to perfumes. In cosmetics, they are valued for their soothing properties.

Myrrh is a resin produced by a small sturdy tree that shares the same name. A relative to olibanum trees, they grow to no more than nine feet in height and inhabit semi-arid regions of Africa and Asia.

A yellow liquid flows naturally from cracks and cuts on the tree’s trunk, setting into brownish-red pieces called gum. Steam distillation is used to extract the essential oil from this gum while the resinoid is obtained by solvent extraction.

Myrrh has been used for cosmetic purposes since ancient Egypt and is present in many ancient texts. Greek mythology even gave the tree a rather sad tale, where a woman named Myrrha was transformed into a tree. It is said that the flowing resin is, in fact, the tears of Myrrha who cries over her fate — although for some, the idea of becoming a tree seems quite pleasing.