The Aromatic Plants Mentioned in the Bible

At least nineteen aromatic plants are referenced in the Old and New Testament books of the Bible. These botanicals were used to make anointing oils, perfumes, incense, medicinals, hair oils, skin care products of the day and/or other natural aromatics. A majority of the natural plants mentioned in the Bible are now commonly distilled into essential oils. Others like aloeswood are still available for use as incense.

As AromaWeb's Aromatic Plants, Aromatherapy and the Bible page states, aromatic and anointing oils mentioned throughout the Bible were likely to be what we refer to today as infused oils, not essential oils.

Below is a list of nineteen aromatic plants mentioned in the Bible with an example passage displayed for each botanical. I am using Old Testament references wherever possible.

Aromatic plants that are available today as essential oils and have an Essential Oil Profile on AromaWeb are linked to the corresponding Essential Oil Profile page.

Agarwood (Also known as Aloeswood and Oud)

Agarwood is a rare and precious wood that has been traditionally burned as an incense. In more modern history, it is also distilled into a costly essential oil for use within perfumery and spiritual applications.

"Your plants are an orchard of pomegranates with choices fruits, with henna and nard, nard and saffron, calamus and cinnamon, with every kind of incense tree, with myrrh and aloes [aloeswood] and all the finest spices."
— Song of Songs 5:13-14 (NIV)

Calamus

Calamus is considered a hazardous/toxic oil.

"Danites and Greeks from Uzal bought your merchandise; they exchanged wrought iron, cassia and calamus for your wares.
— Ezekiel 27:19 (NIV)

Cassia

"Then the Lord said to Moses, 'Take the following fine spices: 500 shekels of liquid myrrh, half as much (that is, 250 shekels) of fragrant cinnamon, 250 shekels of fragrant cane, 500 shekels of cassia — all according to the sanctuary shekel — and a hin of olive oil. Make these into a sacred anointing oil, a fragrant blend, the work of a perfumer.'"
— Exodus 30: 23-26 (NIV)

Cedarwood

"To purify the house his is to take two birds and some cedar wood, scarlet yarn and hyssop..."
— Leviticus 14:49

Cinammon

"Then the Lord said to Moses, 'Take the following fine spices: 500 shekels of liquid myrrh, half as much (that is, 250 shekels) of fragrant cinnamon, 250 shekels of fragrant cane, 500 shekels of cassia — all according to the sanctuary shekel — and a hin of olive oil. Make these into a sacred anointing oil, a fragrant blend, the work of a perfumer.'"
— Exodus 30: 23-26 (NIV)

Cistus/Rock Rose/Rose of Sharon

"I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys."
— Song of Songs 2:1 (NIV)

Cypress

"I will put in the desert the cedar and the acacia, the myrtle and the olive. I will set pines in the wasteland, the fir and the cypress together, so that people may see and know, may consider and understand, that the hand of the Lord has done this, that the Holy One of Israel has created it."
— Isaiah 41:19-20 (NIV)

Fir

" The glory of Lebanon will come to you, the pine, the fir and the cypress together, to adorn the place of my sanctuary; and I will glorify the place of my feet."
— Isaiah 60:13 (NIV)

Frankincense

Many of the references to incense in the Bible are believed to be references to Frankincense resin.

"Then the Lord said to Moses, 'Take fragrant spices - gum resin, onycha and galbanum - and pure frankincnese, all in equal amounts, and make a fragrant blend of incense, the word of a perfumer. It is to be salted and pure and sacred.'"
— Exodus 30:34-35 (NIV)

"Who is this coming up from the desert like a column of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense made from all the spices of the merchant?"
— Song of Songs 3:6 (NIV)

"On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, incense and myrrh."
— Matthew 2:11 (NIV)

Galbanum

"Then the Lord said to Moses, 'Take fragrant spices — gum resin, onycha and galbanum — and pure frankincense, all in equal amounts, and make a fragrant blend of incense, the work of a perfumer.'"
— Exodus 30:34-35 (NIV)

Hyssop

"Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow."
— Psalm 5:7

Juniper

The Broom Tree, as referenced in Psalm 120, is thought to be a juniper shrub that grows in Palestine (This passage can be looked at in several ways, one being that the juniper was used to cleanse, purify and eliminate that which is false and negative.):

"He will punish you with a warrior's sharp arrows, with burning coals of the broom tree."
— Psalm 120:4 (NIV)

Myrrh

"...with myrrh and aloes [aloeswood] and all the finest spices."
— Song of Songs 4:14 (NIV)

Myrtle