Myrrh

Myrrh (Mor in Hebrew) Moschus moshchiferus is one of the biblical incense ingredients. According to one opinion it is one and the same as the pure musk – the pearl of perfume worldwide.
The sweet aroma of Musk, enchanting and beloved throughout thousands of years of history, is considered the rarest and most expensive of perfumes in the world.
Mount Moriah, the mountain on which the Temple was built, is named after Mor, the word in Hebrew for the incense ingredient.

Beside being mentioned in Jewish sources as an ingredient in the incense in the Jewish Temple, it is also named in the Song of Songs, written traditionally by King Solomon, in which he teaches about the extraction of and use of Myrrh in olden times.
” ידי נטפו מור ואצבעותיי מור עובר” (שיר השירים ה’, ה’), “אריתי מורי עם בשמי ” (שיר השירים ה’, א’), “מור והאלות עם כל ראשי בשמים” (שיר השירים ד’, יד’).

Just the fact that Myrrh is mentioned in Jewish sources repeatedly demonstrates its importance in the ancient world. In modern industrial society, the extraction of perfumes is very different from the past. Though many studies teach us of a dark and mysterious world of perfumes, full of passion and love.

How did they extract Musk in the past?

The stag has a subcutaneal gland on his stomach which secrets a wax-like, aromatic substance called moshkon in Hebrew. This gland gives the deer its name, Moschus Moschiferus.

To extract the substance from the glands without harming the deer, the shepherds would wait until the stag rubbed his stomach on tree trunks during the dry season and collect minute amounts of the resulting powder.
ארייה היא המלאכה הקדומה שנדרשה להשגת האבקה לצורך השימוש בה, והיא נעשתה בטבעיות ללא פגיעה בבעל החיים.
רק לאחר שהאייל היה מפריש את האבקה ומשאירה על העצים באופן טבעי, על ידי חיכוך של בטנו בעצים בימות החום, באו הרועים, גרדו ואספו את האבקה במנות קטנות מהעצים.

The musk powder is reddish -brown with a creamy texture. As it dries it acquires a black color, and when diluted has a pleasant smell. One gram of Musk is worth 100$.

The painstaking extract and rarity of the substance explains the high price of the ancient Musk, which was considered more expensive than gold, even at modern exchange rates.

Incorporating Musk in perfumes lengths their life span and ensures a pleasant, long-term aroma. “באתי לגני אחותי כלה אריתי מורי עם בשמי ” (שיר השירים ה’, א’).

Myrhh- Sap

A second opinion about the origins of Myrrh is that they used tree sap to avoid causing cruelty to animals. This theory says that they used the tree sap of the Myrrh tree originating in Ethiopia and Sudan. This tree is mentioned in the Bible in the Book of Esther when cosmetic preparations are mentioned. Two thousand years ago, when King Achashverush was searching for a Queen to replace Vashti, he gathered virgins in his palace and submitted them to a beauty regiment. “שישה חודשים בשמן המור ושישה חודשים בבשמים” (אסתר ב’ יב’).

מפסוק זה אנו למדים שהיו הנשים של פעם שוהות 6 חודשים בשמן המור, וכך על פי מקורות עתיקים היו הנשים של פעם מסירות את השיער באמצעות שרף המור.

In modern times the essential oil derived from the tree sap is one of the most important oils in aromatherapy and cosmetics.
Due to the variety of derivative products and its high price, there are many fake Myrhs. Therefore, authentic Myrrh is known as חופשי מן הזיופים.

The Myrrh tree is from southwest Asia. It is a short desert tree, with aromatic leaves and small flowers. The extraction of the essential oil is like the Frankincense. The trunk of the tree is perforated to make scratches in the bark. The scarring causes the sap to appear, which is then removed from the tree. This substance is steam-distilled, causing the sap to turn resinous and clear and then opaque. At this point it becomes hard and crystallizes.
It is preferable to buy Myrrh soon after its manufacturing.

There is a 3,700 repertoire of knowledge about the Myrrh, as it was also used for purification purposes in the Jewish Temple.

Medical characteristics:

Myrrh is unique. It can regenerate cracked tired, wrinkled, and sagging skin.
It can shrink open pores, give skin tone, resilience and durability.
It is a skin restorative and excellent for deep skin problems.
It is known to be efficient for mouth ulcers, also for fungus, and mouth infections and bleeding in the gums.

The connection between cosmetics and Myrrh

Used for regenerating tired or wrinkled skin.

The connection between Myrrh and AVTINAS?

We are particular about optimum quality in our products and refine part of the Myrrh sap to ensure quality products.
Myrrh is an ingredient in the liquid day cream. It is efficient for deep skin problems and bonds perfectly with Frankincense in AVITANAS products.