Myrrh Resinoide DEP

Natural Ingredient Overview

• 🏭 Manufacturer — IFF

• 🔎 Botanical name — Commiphora myrrha (Nees) Engl.

• 📂 CAS N° — 8016-37-3

• ⚖️ MW — Not applicable (complex mixture)

• 📝 Odor type — Balsamic

• 📈 Odor Strength — Medium

• 👃🏼 Odor Profile — Warm, balsamic-aromatic, deep-spicy, slightly medicinal with rich sweetness and a sharp top

• ⚗️ Uses — Fixative and balsamic modifier in oriental, woody, pine, mossy, and spicy bases; often blended with geranium, musks, linalool, and cinnamic alcohol

• 🧴 Appearance — Dark reddish-orange to brown, viscous resin or semi-solid

What is Myrrh Resinoid?

Myrrh Resinoid is obtained from the dried sap of the Commiphora myrrha tree, a member of the Burseraceae family. Known as one of the oldest recorded perfume materials, it has been used for over 3,700 years in spiritual rituals, embalming, medicine, and incense. The crude resin—commonly referred to as "mur" in Arabic—yields either a distilled essential oil or a solvent-extracted resinoid, with the latter being favored in perfumery for its richness and fixative properties.

The tree grows in arid regions of Somalia, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Kenya, and parts of the Arabian Peninsula. The collection process is still largely manual, where the sap is tapped by peeling the bark, forming resin tears.

Today, Myrrh Resinoid is used for its olfactory density, medicinal edge, and its ability to add historic depth to compositions. The material has spiritual connotations but is valued in modern perfumery for far more than its religious heritage.

Olfactory Profile and Perfumery Applications

Myrrh Resinoid has a complex and evolving scent:

• Top: Sharp-balsamic and medicinal (if fresh), slightly pungent

• Heart: Warm, spicy, aromatic; reminiscent of benzoin and incense

• Drydown: Deep-sweet and tenacious, mildly smoky, with resinous warmth

Applications:

• Oriental compositions: Enhances amber, sweet-balsamic complexity

• Chypre bases: Adds resinous depth and historical character

• Woody blends: Pairs well with patchouli, vetiver, and cedar

• Spice accords: Fixes cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove profiles

• Green or forest notes: Functions as an earthy modifier when used with juniper, cypress, and labdanum

Often used in trace amounts to modify and round heavier floral bases or to sweeten and anchor incense notes.

Industrial and Technical Uses

In addition to perfumery, Myrrh Resinoid and its essential oil are used:

• In oral hygiene products (toothpastes, mouthwashes)

• As a natural antimicrobial agent in herbal preparations

• In fumigants and incense blends

• Occasionally in liqueurs and bitters (as aromatic modifier)

Its main commercial value today lies in high-end fine fragrance, particularly niche perfumery and compositions drawing on ancient, resinous inspirations. Annual production is below 1 metric ton, reflecting its artisanal scale and specialized use.

Regulatory and Safety Overview

• IFRA Status — ✅ Not restricted under current IFRA Amendment 51

• EU Cosmetic Regulation (1223/2009) — ❌ Not among 26 listed allergens

• GHS Classification — Not classified as a hazardous substance

• Usage Limitations — May stain due to resin color; formulation in alcohol preferred

• Toxicology —

  • Non-sensitizing at standard perfume concentrations

  • Traditional use as an antiseptic and astringent in herbal medicine

• Environmental — Naturally derived, biodegradable; harvesting may raise ethical and sustainability concerns if not sourced responsibly

Sources

• Perfume and Flavor Materials of Natural Origin, S. Arctander (1961)

• Knottnerus, R. (2020). Myrrh – Herbal Legacy

• Wikipedia: Commiphora myrrha

• Goymen Oil Analysis (2020)

• Fulvio Ciccolo, Scentspiracy Internal Notes (2020)