Frankincense, Myrrh, and Oppopanax: The Ancient Resins Every Healer Should Know

KhadiYah Preciado
Jul 20, 2023
3 min read

Updated: Apr 28

When you think about natural remedies, few gifts are as powerful — or as time-tested — as frankincense, myrrh, and oppopanax (sweet myrrh).These ancient resins have been treasured across Africa and the Middle East for thousands of years for their healing power — not just for the body, but for the mind and spirit, too.

Today, I’m going to walk you through:

What these resins actually are
Why they’re different (and more powerful) than gums
Their most important uses
How you can start using them at home today

And if you're interested in learning how to blend these ancient scents into natural perfumes and diffuser oils, I’ll show you how you can start with my book, Good Smells: Perfume and Diffuser Blending for Beginners — a step-by-step guide for making your own beautiful, biblical-inspired blends.

Let’s get into it.

First Things First: What Are Resins (and Why Are They So Special)?

Before we dive into the individual benefits of frankincense, myrrh, and oppopanax, it's crucial to understand the difference between resins and gums.

Resins are formed by trees as a defense mechanism against damage, such as tapping, bruising, or insect grazes. These resins have the remarkable ability to promote healing, and this quality extends to our skin. Resins are water-soluble, unlike gums, which makes them easier to extract and use effectively.

Resins are the natural "wounds" that trees create to protect themselves from damage — things like insect bites, cuts, or bruises. These sticky substances hold some of the strongest healing properties you’ll find in nature.

Unlike gums (which are more water-soluble), resins are thicker and more potent, packed with natural plant compounds that are great for human use — especially for skin healing, respiratory health, and emotional support.

When you learn how to work with resins the right way, you open up a whole new world of herbal and aromatic medicine-making.

➡️ Want to learn how to transform these sacred resins into perfumes, diffuser oils, and natural home scents?Grab a copy of Good Smells: Perfume and Diffuser Blending for Beginners and start creating your own heavenly blends at home.

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Frankincense has been prized for its anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, and calming properties for centuries.

It’s utilized for everything from:

Healing stretch marks, scars, and blemishes
Easing stress, anxiety, and emotional tension
Supporting hormonal balance and easing menstrual issues and
Relieving respiratory problems like bronchitis, coughs, and congestion

It’s also one of the most valued aromatic resins, used for incense and sacred anointing oils since biblical times — a tradition you can continue today.

The Ancient Healing Power of Myrrh:

If you’re looking for another heavy-hitter, myrrh needs to be in your apothecary. Like frankincense, it’s deeply anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial — but it brings some extra bonuses too.

Historically used for:

Healing gum disease and oral infections
Fighting athlete’s foot, eczema, and ringworm
Supporting digestion and easing stomach aches
Helping respiratory issues like asthma and chronic coughs

Myrrh also has a rich, earthy scent that blends beautifully in natural perfumes and oils, making it a dual-purpose resin: medicinal and aromatic.

The Hidden Gem: Oppopanax (Sweet Myrrh):

Most people have heard of frankincense and myrrh — but oppopanax flies under the radar.

Also called sweet myrrh, oppopanax brings expectorant, antiseptic, and anti-spasmodic powers to the table. In simple terms: it clears the lungs, heals infections, and soothes cramps and spasms.

It’s especially useful for:

Deep respiratory healing
Digestive issues like indigestion and diarrhea
Emotional clarity during prayer, meditation, and focus work

Its rich, balsamic aroma is often used in perfumery as a warm, grounding base note — one that ties a blend together in a way few other scents can.

➡️ Curious how to blend oppopanax and other sacred scents into diffuser oils and personal fragrances?You’ll find simple, beginner-friendly recipes inside Good Smells: Perfume and Diffuser Blending for Beginners.

Good Smells: Perfume & Diffuser Blending For Beginners

Buy Now

"I’ve noticed that medicinal trees also tend to have a beneficial effect on the respiratory system… As plants with the deepest roots and tallest stature, they are grounding to the mind and spirit."

KhadiYah Preciado,

Herbal Holistic Healing

If you love learning about ancient resins and healing plants, why not also learn how to blend them beautifully into perfumes, diffuser oils, and natural home fragrances?