How to Burn Myrrh Resin: A Catholic Guide
Myrrh is the dried sap of the Commiphora tree, which grows in the Horn of Africa and the south of the Arabian Peninsula. The resin is dark, reddish-brown to almost black, and its scent is warm, slightly bitter and heavier than frankincense. You burn it the same way as frankincense: a few small pieces on a hot charcoal disc. The difference is patience, because myrrh takes a little longer to start smoking.
Myrrh runs through the Gospels from beginning to end. The Magi brought it to the infant Christ, and Nicodemus brought "a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds" to anoint his body for burial (John 19:39). This guide covers how to burn it at home, why it holds that place in Catholic tradition, and where to find it in our range.
How to burn myrrh resin
If you have read How to Burn Resin Incense, the method is the same. Only the resin and the timing change.
You will need: a few pea-sized pieces of myrrh, one quick-light charcoal disc, a heat-safe burner, tongs and a small spoon.
Step 1: Light the charcoal. Hold the disc with tongs and bring a flame to its edge until sparks run across the surface. Set it in the burner.
Step 2: Wait for the ash. Give it one to three minutes, until the disc is covered in light grey ash. Resin added to a disc that is still sparking burns too fast and turns sharp.
Step 3: Add the myrrh. Place two or three small pieces on the charcoal. Myrrh is a gum-resin, gummier than frankincense, so it tends to soften and darken for a moment before the smoke comes. Wait for it rather than adding more.
Step 4: Let it burn, then refresh. The smoke is thick and the scent is warm and round. When it thins, add another piece or two. One disc is enough for a rosary or an hour of prayer. Let the disc cool completely before you throw it away.
Why myrrh matters in Catholic tradition
It is the gift that points to the Passion. The Church has long read the Magi's three gifts together: gold for a king, frankincense for God, and myrrh for the one who would suffer and die. At the tomb, myrrh returns in the hands of Nicodemus. It frames the beginning and the end of Christ's earthly life.
It belongs to the sacred oils of the East. In the Roman Rite, the bishop consecrates the Sacred Chrism on Holy Thursday from olive oil and balsam. The Eastern Churches prepare their Holy Myron, the chrism used at baptism and chrismation, with many aromatic ingredients, and myrrh has long been among them.
It suits the quieter seasons. Because its scent is deeper and more sober than frankincense, many families keep myrrh for Lent, for the Sorrowful Mysteries of the rosary, for Good Friday and for praying for the dead. Frankincense lifts a feast; myrrh settles a quiet evening.
Where to find myrrh
The Three Wise Men kit is the only way we sell myrrh on its own. Alleluia and La Salette are blends where myrrh leads.
Pure myrrhThree Wise Men kit0.7 oz of myrrh and 0.7 oz of olibanum in separate sachets, a golden burner, charcoal and tongs.$33.90See the kit
Myrrh-forward blendAlleluiaA classic parish incense built on myrrh and fine essential oils, formerly sold as Gloria.From $4.96Choose a size
Myrrh, nard and roseOur Lady of La SaletteMyrrh for the tears of Our Lady at La Salette, nard for mercy, rose for consolation.From $4.96Choose a size
Frankincense and myrrh together
Most church incense blends pair the two: frankincense gives the bright top note and myrrh the warm depth underneath. At home, place a piece of each side by side on the same disc. For the full frankincense method and its history, see How to Burn Frankincense Resin.
Frequently asked questions
Is myrrh the same as frankincense?
No. Both are tree resins burned the same way, but they come from different trees. Frankincense comes from Boswellia and smells bright, lemony and piny. Myrrh comes from Commiphora and smells darker, warmer and slightly bitter.
Why does myrrh take longer to start smoking?
Myrrh is a gum-resin, so it softens before it releases its fragrance. Give it a properly ashed disc and a little time instead of piling on more resin.
Can I burn myrrh without charcoal?
You can warm it on an electric or tea-light resin warmer, but the scent comes out slowly and faintly. For the fragrance you know from church, use charcoal. The full comparison is in Can You Burn Resin Incense Without Charcoal?
Can I burn myrrh and frankincense on the same charcoal?
Yes, and it is the traditional pairing. Half a piece of each gives a balanced scent close to what you smell at Mass.
Which of your incenses contain myrrh?
Pure myrrh comes in the Three Wise Men kit. Myrrh leads in Alleluia and Our Lady of La Salette, and it is part of the Saint Therese, Saint Francis, Pacem in Terris and Peregrinantes in Spem blends.
Learn myrrh beside frankincense
The Three Wise Men kit keeps the two resins in separate sachets, so you can burn myrrh on its own first, then together with frankincense as the Magi offered them. A golden burner, charcoal and tongs are in the box.
Or browse:
Milagros incense is made in Aparecida, Brazil. Every order ships from Florida.