The scents most associated with Jesus are frankincense, symbolizing his divinity, and myrrh, representing his mortality and sacrifice, both given by the Magi and used at his burial, alongside the sweet, spiritual "fragrance of Christ" described in the Bible, often linked to balsam, roses, or spikenard, signifying his presence, love, and sacrifice.
PERFUME in the Bible is found in prophecy, metaphor, and poetry. The gifts of the magi — gold, frankincense and myrrh — served a prophetic purpose as they foretold Christ's kingship, priesthood and death.
Jesus fulfilled the purpose of these Old Testament sacrifices for our sin through His death on the cross (Heb. 10:1–12). This is a sacrifice that never loses its power and always carries with it the aroma of Christ's love, mercy, forgiveness, justice, and authority. It's an everlasting “pleasing aroma.”
It's not the literal smell that finds favor with God, but the meaning behind the smell. For example, the smell of incense represents prayer going up to heaven, which God loves. Jeff breaks down the four favorite smells of God in today's episode: prayer, repentance, kerygma, and loving sacrifice.
Interestingly, the “spikenard” used in the Bible may have in fact been lavender oil. In John 12:3, the Bible tells how spikenard was used to anoint Jesus just days before His death and resurrection. In the Old Testament, God commanded His people to use hyssop in the ceremonial cleansing of people and houses.
Here the Bishop blesses three oils– the Oil of Catechumens (Oleum Catechumenorum or Oleum Sanctorum), the Oil of the Infirm (Oleum Infirmorum), and Holy Chrism (Sacrum Chrisma)– which will be used in the administration of the sacraments throughout the diocese for the year.
PSALM 45:8 All thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia, out of the ivory palaces, whereby they have made thee glad. PROVERBS 7:17 I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. SONG OF SOLOMON 1:13 A bundle of myrrh is my well beloved unto me; he shall lie all night betwixt my breasts.
Odour of sanctity. The odour of sanctity, according to both the Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church, is commonly understood to mean a specific scent (often compared to flowers) that emanates from the bodies of saints, especially from the wounds of stigmata.
Spikenard (Nard)
Spikenard is mentioned in the Book of Mark in the New Testament (14:3-9) as the oil a sinner used to anoint the head of Jesus before his crucifixion. It is also cited in John (12:3) and Song of Solomon (14). Ancient Hebrews burned it as incense in the Jerusalem Temple.
Perfumes, incense and fragrant oils were commonly connected with the divine — gods, sacred spaces and spiritual entities. Aromatic plants like copal and palo santo (holy tree), have their primary meaning in a more holistic, spiritual perspective that connects medicine and human well-being with environmental awareness.
The Aroma of Our Repentance
But, again, it wasn't the aroma from the sacrifices that pleased God as much as what it represented: repentance, clean souls, changed lives (Leviticus 1:9, 13; 2:2; 23:18). If performed properly, these sacrifices were “a pleasing aroma to the Lord” (Numbers 15:3).
One of the ways we discern the Presence of the Lord is through a distinctive smell. He will smell like roses or something sweet or pure. The reason we can "smell" His Presence is because we often discern the spiritual realm through our senses - even through the sense of smell (Heb. 5:14 NASB).
What does heaven smell like? There are no descriptions of coffee beans in heaven or a selection of flavored creamers, but we know throughout scripture there is the aroma of incense that's mentioned. Incense was used in the tabernacle and later, in the temple.
The Historical Roots of Sacred Scents
Ancient civilizations like Egypt, India, and China incorporated aromatic substances such as frankincense, myrrh, and sandalwood in their rituals. These substances were believed to purify spaces, communicate with the divine, and symbolize the prayers rising to the heavens.
The Passion Flower with its various parts is seen as a symbols of Jesus' scourging, crowning with thorns and crucifixion.
THIS FRAGRANCE IS USED AS A SPIRITUAL PRODUCT TO ATTRACT LUCK AND SEEK DIVINE FAVOUR. Good news will locate you from different places. The fragrance of God triggers His wonders. God will spray His perfume on you and you will attract blessings to your life.
Paul declares that Christ has his own fragrance. He goes on to say that we help spread in every place the aroma of Christ to those who are being saved and those who are perishing.
A perfume of great value used in Biblical times, Spikenard is best known for being the perfume that Mary Magdalene used to anoint Jesus.
SANDALWOOD. Symbolism: Spirituality, meditation, and enlightenment. Sandalwood has been used for centuries in religious rituals and spiritual practices and is associated with inner peace and harmony.
According to Leviticus, God is especially fond of the smell of burning sacrifices. In some cases, these sacrifices would smell just like meat being grilled over coals on a summer's evening.
Nonenal® (also known as 2-Nonenal) is a naturally occurring compound responsible for the distinct odor associated with aging. It typically appears after age 40, becoming more noticeable in both men and women.
According to a study conducted by the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden and Oxford University, the most pleasant scent is vanilla , followed by peach . The list also includes scents like freshly cut grass, coffee, chocolate, and the sea .
Gold honors Jesus because it represents that He is Christ the King. Frankincense pleases Jesus as it is used to worship Him, and it reveals that He is Christ the High Priest. Myrrh is a perfume used to anoint dead bodies, and it is symbolic of His death for the sake of the truth, as Christ the Prophet.
Pastor Jared speaks about a Bible passage from 2 Corinthians 2:12-16, emphasizing the importance of 'smelling like Jesus,' which means embodying Christ's love and values. He explains that believers are seen as the aroma of Christ to God and that this is a sweet, pleasing scent.
God had a “signature” scent which we know contained frankincense, but the other ingredients remain debated. Only this compounded incense burned on the altar, representing God's Presence. The fragrance surely drifted out of the tabernacle and the people identified the scent with the Presence of God.