Myrrh, frankincense and a golden mystery: were the Magi offering gold... or turmeric?
- Ilona
- 20 hours ago
- 4 min read
Updated: 6 minutes ago
Every Christmas, we picture the Magi kneeling beside the manger, laying three mysterious gifts before the Infant Jesus: gold, frankincense and myrrh. These treasures have fascinated Christians for centuries, not only for their symbolism but for their deeper meaning. Yet some historians have proposed an intriguing idea: that the gift described as gold may not have been metal at all, but a golden spice so precious and healing that it was once considered more valuable than coins. That treasure was turmeric.
Whether the Magi carried literal gold or the golden medicine of the ancient world, the symbolism shines just as brightly. Turmeric, frankincense and myrrh each carry centuries of healing traditions, spiritual significance and beauty rituals. They are ingredients that have touched temples, palaces and humble homes alike. And today, they still speak to us with the same sense of sacred simplicity.
This is the story of these three ancient gifts — their history, their symbolism, their skin-loving benefits — and how they inspired a Christmas collection created to honor the beauty and meaning of the season.
Turmeric: the radiant golden treasure
Turmeric has long been revered as a spice of light. Its vibrant yellow pigment, curcumin, was treasured in many ancient cultures for ceremonies, cleansing rituals and medicinal use. It was valued for its rarity, its ability to color fabrics and oils in shades of gold, and its remarkable healing properties. In some regions, turmeric was considered a ceremonial offering, given to royalty or used in celebrations welcoming new life.
This alone makes the idea of turmeric as the Magi's gift beautifully symbolic. Its radiant hue mirrors the purity and majesty traditionally represented by gold. And its healing reputation reflects Christ's role as healer and king.
Turmeric's benefits for the skin are just as enduring. It has been used for thousands of years to soften the complexion, support a brighter appearance, ease visible irritation and encourage a natural, healthy glow. It seems to illuminate the skin from within, giving it a warmth that feels almost symbolic of its history as a golden treasure.
Myrrh: the resin of restoration and quiet contemplation
Myrrh carries a different kind of beauty — deep, warm, contemplative. Long before the birth of Jesus, myrrh was used in purification rituals, anointing ceremonies, perfumes and healing ointments. In Scripture, it appears again and again, from the Song of Solomon to the burial of Christ, marking moments of tenderness, reverence and sacrifice.
Its aroma has a way of settling the spirit. It is grounding, steadying and beautifully ancient. People once burned it in temples, wore it in oils and used it as a balm for chapped or aging skin. Myrrh was cherished for its ability to soothe dryness, support the skin's natural repair processes and provide a protective, comforting richness.
To apply myrrh today is to participate in a tradition that stretches back thousands of years, touching both body and soul with a quiet, almost monastic kind of peace.
Frankincense: the aromatic gift of prayer and renewal
If myrrh grounds the spirit, frankincense lifts it. Its resin has been burned in worship for millennia, its rising smoke symbolizing prayer moving heavenward. Frankincense was once considered more precious than gold and was reserved for sacred ceremonies, royal households and healing preparations.
Its scent is fresh, resinous and uplifting, the kind of aroma that immediately clears the mind and invites a deep, steady breath. For the skin, frankincense is prized for supporting firmness, improving tone and encouraging a smoother, more rejuvenated complexion. It is often called the oil of renewal, and it blends beautifully with nutrient-rich fats like tallow, transforming the skin with gentle, steady nourishment.
Frankincense seems to bring together the physical and the spiritual, offering clarity, cleanliness and a sense of stillness with every use.
Christmas Special: Gifts of Gold, Myrrh & Frankincense
These sacred botanicals inspired us to create the limited-edition Gifts of Gold, Myrrh & Frankincense Christmas Special — a collection meant to honor the season with intention, reverence and natural beauty. Each product is crafted with care, using pure, organic ingredients that reflect the symbolism and the healing traditions of the original gifts.
The golden gift comes to life as the Organic Turmeric Tallow Soap, a radiant bar infused with turmeric and nourishing tallow. Its warmth and glow echo the ancient idea of turmeric as golden medicine, bringing brightness and gentle comfort to the skin.
Myrrh finds its place in the Organic Regenerating Face Moisturizer, a rich, velvety balm infused with pure myrrh essential oil. Its grounding aroma and restorative texture invite a moment of quiet reflection as it softens and nurtures the complexion.
Frankincense appears twice, celebrated in both the Organic Rejuvenating Frankincense Tallow Body Balm and the Organic Rejuvenating Frankincense Mist. The balm melts luxuriously into the skin, nourishing deeply while supporting tone and renewal. The mist offers a veil of fresh, uplifting aroma, perfect for prayer, stillness or unwinding after a long day.
Together, these products form a collection that celebrates beauty as something sacred — something tied to tradition, nature and the stillness that Advent invites.
A timeless ritual carried into the present
As we revisit the story of the Magi, we are reminded that their gifts were chosen not for extravagance, but for meaning. They carried what was precious, healing and symbolic. These same botanicals still invite us into that spirit of reflection today.
Turmeric, myrrh and frankincense have endured for thousands of years not because they were fashionable, but because they offered comfort, beauty and a sense of the sacred. Whether used in moments of prayer, in simple rituals of care or as part of daily life, they continue to connect us to traditions deeper and older than our own.
This is the heart behind our Gifts of Gold, Myrrh & Frankincense Christmas Special. It is simply a way to bring these ancient ingredients into a modern ritual — a gentle continuation of a story that has shaped centuries. A small reminder that the elements once offered with reverence still carry warmth, healing and quiet beauty today.