What does myrrh smell like?

Myrrh has a balsamic odor and tastes bitter. Its name originates from the Arabic term "murr," which means "bitter." The expensive spice is used for making perfume, incense and medicine and for anointing the dead.

Myrrh is frequently mentioned in the Bible. Its most famous appearance is during the story of the Three Kings bearing gifts for the baby Jesus. One of the gifts was myrrh. Myrrh is made from the resin of a small bushy tree, which hardens into fragrant globules in three months. Myrrh is used today in Chinese medicine for a variety of ailments. Myrrh is mixed with oil to make perfume.