Myrrh, << mur, >> is a fragrant gum resin that has been used as a raw material for perfumes since ancient times. It also has been burned as an incense, and used in medicines and in embalming (preserving bodies). The Bible says that one of the wise men brought Jesus a gift of myrrh (Matthew 2). Myrrh comes from trees of the genus Commiphora found mainly around the Gulf of Aden, which borders eastern Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. The tree discharges the resin from between the outer layers of the bark, and the resin falls to the ground. The perfume ingredient is an oil obtained by heating the resin to produce a vapor, then cooling the vapor.
