Myrrh-Aloes Burial Anointing
This oil helps honor the dying or the grieving.
Generally safe topically at this dilution (~2%). Agarwood is extremely expensive — a few drops carries far; sourcing from sustainable plantation suppliers (Cambodian or Vietnamese) is important both for cost and CITES compliance. Patch-test before first use.
About this recipe
*And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight. Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury.* John 19:39 records the burial preparation of Christ in two named aromatics: myrrh and aloes. The "aloes" of the verse is agarwood (*aloeswood*, *oud*) — the dark resinous heartwood of *Aquilaria*, distinct from the modern aloe vera plant. The combination was the highest grade of Levantine burial anointing — myrrh's preservative and aromatic action paired with agarwood's deep, lingering presence. This household-scale recipe offers the same aromatic combination as a way to mark loss — anointed onto the hands of the bereaved, used at a wake, given as a balm for the dying, or kept for the moment when language fails and what remains is presence.
Ingredients
- 2 oz extra virgin olive oil (traditional anointing carrier)
- 15 drops myrrh essential oil (sesquiterpenes)Skin healing — supports Skin · Nervous System & Mood
- 6 drops agarwood (oud) essential oil (sesquiterpenes)Sacred and contemplative aromatic — supports Nervous System & Mood · Skin
- Optional: 3 drops sandalwood EO for a slightly softer presentation (santalol)Meditation & calm — supports Nervous System & Mood · Skin · Hormones & Women's Health
Method
- 1 Combine all in a 2 oz amber dropper bottle.
- 2 Cap, label "Myrrh-Aloes — for moments of loss," shake gently.
- 3 To use: a single drop on the hands, the wrist, or the brow.
- 4 Pair with silence, with words, or with a hand held by another hand.
What you'll notice
- A scent reserved for moments of loss
- For anointing the hands of the bereaved
- Aromatic accompaniment for the dying or grieving
- Powerful — use sparingly
- Lasts years; the smell deepens over time
Tips & storage
Reserve this oil for use that is rare and intentional. The practice of having a particular preparation set aside specifically for moments of loss — not borrowed from a daily cabinet — is its own quiet form of preparing for what comes.
Dark glass, cool, tightly sealed; 1+ year (agarwood actually improves with age).