In temple days, sweet incense containing Frankincense was placed on the Inner Altar of the Tabernacle and burned morning and evening. Frankincense was also used in certain sacrifices, making them a "sweet smelling aroma to the Lord. The gnarly Frankincense trees grow in land with very little soil and out of weather-worn marble rocks along the coastal areas of Oman, Somalia and Yemen. Young trees furnish the most valuable gum, amber in color and extremely aromatic.
Resins begin to crystallize almost immediately after harvesting, appearing translucent as the hardening takes place. Myrrh, an exotic Biblical spice, was used as a burial spice but also in purification and beautification rites. The Bible records the story of Esther, one of many beautiful virgins brought to the King of Persia's palace, who was bathed in Oil of Myrrh for six months and with other aloes and perfumes for another six months before her One Night with the King (Esther 2:12).
As the story continues, Esther finds great favor with King Xerxes; "The king loved Esther more than all the other women, and she obtained grace and favor in his sight more than all the virgins; so he set the royal crown upon her head and made her queen..." (Esther 2:17).
