In the world of naturopathy and aromatherapy, each plant and the oil it produces have very specific and unique qualities and benefits. When two oils come from very similarly named plants, such as myrrh and sweet myrrh, it is easy to mix them up or to presume they are interchangeable. You need to know what you are actually dealing with to get the desired effect.
Sources
Sweet myrrh is a common name for the Opoponax herb most frequently found in Southern Europe and the Middle East. The oil is harvested as a gummy resin from the base of the stem.
Myrrh oil also begins as a resin harvested from the stem of the bush sometimes known as Balsamodendron. These bushes are naturally found along the coastal regions of the Arabian Peninsula and Eastern Africa.
History
Botanical.com notes that myrrh has played a part in various histories and myths, as a gift for the newborn Christ, as a product of the Egyptian sun god Horus' tears, and as a tool in the seduction of King Solomon.
Sweet myrrh was historically noted as part of Egyptian embalming rituals and in the traditional Jewish holy oil, also according to Botanical.com.
Medicinal Uses
Both myrrh and sweet myrrh have similar uses in natural medicine such as aiding in relief from colds, cough, arthritis, eczema, ringworm, gum and mouth infections and more. According to The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy, myrrh has long been used in natural tooth and gum care regimens, postnatal care and simple wound treatment.
Blending Oils
While both types of myrrh can be used for similar purposes, sweet myrrh does not blend as well with as large a variety of other ingredients. Sweet myrrh works well with bergamot, clary sage, frankincense, myrrh, sandalwood and others, while the classic myrrh can also blend with Roman chamomile, tea tree, lavender, lemon, pine, rose, jasmine, ylang ylang, and more.
Scent Comparison
Botanical.com describes myrrh as a "hot, smoky, herbaceous, woody, dry" scent and sweet myrrh as "sweet-balsamic, spicy, warm, animal-like".
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