Perfumes

Perfumes and aromatic substances were central to ancient Israelite worship and daily life. The holy incense burned before the Lord in the tabernacle was a carefully prescribed compound of stacte, onycha, galbanum, and frankincense, forbidden for private use. Spices and perfumes also played roles in anointing oil, burial preparation, and bridal adornment. The Song of Solomon celebrates perfume as part of the beloved's allure. In the New Testament, Mary of Bethany's anointing of Jesus with costly nard and Nicodemus's mixture of myrrh and aloes for burial represent the highest expressions of devotion through aromatic substances.