Biblical — Scriptural Tradition
— Balms —

The Holy Anointing Oil (Exodus 30)

This oil helps consecrate a moment, person, or threshold.

Moods biblicalconsecrationanointingthresholddevotionaloccasional
Prep · Yield 15 min · 1 oz
Important — read before making

Cinnamon and cassia essential oils are dermal sensitizers — this 1-2% dilution is approaching the upper limit of safe topical use. Use small amounts (a single drop), only occasionally, only on healthy skin. Avoid eye area and mucous membranes. Patch-test before first full application. Calamus EO has a beta-asarone safety concern — source from low-beta-asarone chemotypes (Acorus americanus or specified low-beta-asarone Acorus calamus); restrict use to external occasional anointing.

About this recipe

*And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Take thou also unto thee principal spices, of pure myrrh five hundred shekels, and of sweet cinnamon half so much, even two hundred and fifty shekels, and of sweet calamus two hundred and fifty shekels, and of cassia five hundred shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary, and of oil olive an hin: and thou shalt make it an oil of holy ointment.* This is the only recipe in the Bible explicitly given as a formula. Exodus 30 follows it with the strict instruction that the same oil shall not be made for common use — it was consecrated. The household scale of this preparation preserves the *ratios* (Myrrh : Cassia : Cinnamon : Calamus :: 2 : 2 : 1 : 1) at modern dermal-safe dilution, in olive oil. Use as a quiet, occasional anointing for moments that deserve marking — a child's birthday, a baptism, a doorpost, a person setting out on something hard.

Rooted in the herbal traditions of the ancient Near East — adapted for the modern kitchen.

Ingredients

  • 1 oz extra virgin olive oil (biblical carrier)
    Deep heavy moisturizer — supports Skin · Digestive
  • 6 drops myrrh essential oil (sesquiterpenes)
    Skin healing — supports Skin · Nervous System & Mood
  • 6 drops cassia essential oil (cinnamaldehyde)
  • 3 drops cinnamon bark essential oil (cinnamaldehyde)
    Warming & immune — supports Immune & Defenses
  • 3 drops calamus essential oil (asarones — use the safer low-beta-asarone chemotype)
    Sacred anointing component — supports Skin

Method

  1. 1 Combine olive oil and essential oils in a 1 oz amber dropper bottle.
  2. 2 Cap, label "Holy Anointing Oil — Exodus 30," shake gently.
  3. 3 To use: place a single drop on the forehead, the breastbone, or the back of a hand. Pair with words appropriate to the moment.
  4. 4 Reserve for moments of consecration — not for daily skin care.

What you'll notice

  • A consecration oil for special moments
  • A drop marks a birthday, baptism, or doorway
  • Powerful — not for daily skin care
  • Preserves a 3,000-year-old ratio
  • One bottle lasts years of occasional use

Tips & storage

Tip

The text is not casual about this oil. Exodus 30:32-33 specifies it is not for ordinary daily use. Reserve it. The act of saving it for moments that deserve marking is part of what makes it meaningful.

Storage

Dark glass, cool, capped tightly; 1 year.

Reference notes

About this recipe

Category Balms Prep time 15 min Yields 1 oz Lineage Biblical — Scriptural Tradition Last updated 2026-05-20