I remember growing up, hearing the Christmas story and the gifts the wise men brought and wondering what the significance of Frankincense and Myrrh were. Gold seemed obvious but I was curious about the purpose of the other two gifts.
After I started studying herbal remedies and discovered how Frankincense and Myrrh were traditionally used, I realized that these gifts were actually even more practical than the gold.
Gold Frankincense and Myrrh
Myrrh was (and still is) used in anointing oils and since it is naturally anti-septic, anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory, anti-depressant, anti-microbial and anti-viral. It was used on wounds to ward off infection and was often used on the umbilical cord to keep it clean while it was healing. Myrrh was also said to help sooth and calm and could have been used on babies to calm them.
Frankincense was used in perfumes and was also helpful for improving hormone balance (like after pregnancy), and soothing skin wounds and stretch marks. Some sources say that it was used in traditional cultures to calm mom and baby after birth. In traditional cultures, it was used on babies (in small amounts) to calm, sooth and relax. It was also said to help alleviate digestive problems.
There were certainly deeper spiritual meanings that could be taken from the gifts but they certainly could have served a practical purpose as well. In modern times, Frankincense and Myrrh are often used in natural remedies, especially skin creams and applications.
A gift from afar…
I was using diluted Frankincense on my thyroid externally and wanted an easier way to apply it so I immediately thought of a lotion bar. Since Christmas is approaching, I thought it would be fun to combine the three gifts of the Magi into one lotion bar. The result smells woodsy and amazing and leaves a faint gold shimmer on the skin.
It is perfect for winter and so much fun to make.
Supplies…
These lotion bars are simple to make with all natural ingredients (click on the link to see the brand I used for each ingredients):
- Shea Butter
- Coconut Oil
- Beeswax
- Gold Mica Powder (for color and shimmer)
- Frankincense Essential oil
- Myrrh Essential Oil
- Optional: Lavender and Peppermint Essential oils
I also used these black containers for the lotion bars, but they can be made in muffins tins or silicon molds as well.
Lotion Bar Ingredients:
- 1/3 cup coconut oil
- 1/3 cup Shea butter
- 1/3 cup beeswax
- 1 tablespoon gold mica powder
- 15 drops each of Frankincense and Myrrh essential oils
- Optional: 10 drops each of peppermint and lavender essential oils
What to Do:
- Melt shea butter, beeswax and coconut oil in a double boiler.
- Remove from heat and add mica powder and essential oils.
- Carefully pour into empty deodorant containers and let set until hardened.
- To use: Rub carefully on dry skin to nourish, moisturize and leave a natural shimmer.
Ever tried using gold, frankincense & myrrh in a recipe before? Share below!
I read someplace, once, that ground up gold can be used to treat depression, also. I think the treatment was to drink it. I recommend doing research before using it–I just have vague memories.
My Mother was given gold shots for RA for quite a few years. I don’t know if it is still a treatment for RA but it never seemed to help her.
I’m sorry your mom wasn’t helped by the gold treatments!
When my mom received the gold treatment she was at the point of needing to be in a wheelchair, couldn’t open a cupboard, write, fastener her bra strap, tie shoes, etc. One treatment alone helped her so much she went hiking the next day to pick blueberries!! It was soooo amazing! She was almost completely crippled in every way and then whammo….she was better!!
Hi! Is there any possible way to purchase these already made? 8)
Homeopathic gold (Aurum metalicum) is a remedy for depression, particularly for depression due to losing your fortune (gold!) or your loved one (your true treasure).
Katie – how many empty deodorant containers does this recipe fill?
Mine made 4…
I just made this and it made 2.5 of the black containers for me. A previous batch made about 10 cute flower-shaped bars in a 1-3/4 by 1-3/4 by 0-1/2-inch silicone mold. At first I thought it was way too much gold and it does make the bars rather orange but on the skin it blends right in and just leaves a hint of a shimmer. Very fun gift idea this year.
These look fabulous! With the above measuremts, how many lotion bars does this make? Thank you!
Oh, you beyotch! You stole my idea! 🙂 I was all set to use your lotion bar recipe to make frankincense & myrrh bars and add the mica powder after you talked about using it for lip balm, but Amazon had been out of the gold for weeks so I let it slide.
I also had my eye on some nativity-themed molds on Etsy. That would be the perfect Christmas gift.
Where to get the mica, and also the little bar containers, Katie. Thank you.
Lisa
They are linked in the post 🙂 If you click on the word, it should take you to where I got to them
How many of those black containers does this recipe yield?
4
What a wonderful recipe and perfect gift idea! I love it.
I appreciate you so much. I need to sit down and write an email telling you all the ways my family has been helped through you!
Merry Christmas!
All those benefits may be true but remember the wise men weren’t on the scene until Jesus was about 2 years old!
I recently heard that the “Gold” may not have been gold as we think of it. It may have been TURMERIC! The other two gifts were not precious metals, they were precious oils so it’s reasonable to think that the gold was not a metal, but a spice!
This is such a great idea! It fits the Christmas theme perfectly.
Please tell me more about using Frankincense on the thyroid. I am having thyroid issues and medication makes me feel worse. Next stop, an endocrinologist!
Ditto from Linda Sanders. I would love to know your E.O. recipe for the thyroid and exactly where to apply it, (not certain about the Eustation tubes). PLEEEASE.
I was wondering about the Mica powder. Does it settle to the bottom of the melted coconut mixture, or does it seem to blend in well? I really want to make this!
It blends really well…. one of the reasons I’ve been using it so much lately 😉
If you make these in a mold instead of the container, how would you store it?
I just stored on a small plate or saucer on my bathroom counter
Fantastic idea. I just ordered gold&turmeric cream and I might combine something with frankincense and myrrh 🙂
I am also curious abut using frankincense lotion topically for thyroid. Did it help you in any way?
I bought frankensense and myrrh in the herb section and wonder do I now have to infuse them before use?
(I also would like to know about your idea for supporting thyroid health!)
I love this idea. I make a lot of your skin care recipes. Your healing salve is the only thing that topically soothes my sons eczema. Is there a way to make this recipe more like a body butter so I could give it as gifts in a jar? Thanks!
You could try using less beeswax…
I love these! I added a few drops of wild orange also. Katie, what do you use of your face? Do you use these?
I typically use argan oil with rose, frankincense and lavender on my face since the beeswax can be too heavy on the face.
Can these be used actually as a deodorant?
Yes, especially if you’ve detoxed your armpits or only need a gentle deodorant.
I have all of the ingredients for this except I have myrrh gum instead of oil. Can I still use this? And how would I incorporate it? I’ve frozen and ground into powder but not sure where to go from here….
Thanks!
I’m not sure. I’ve never used it. I would think you could infuse into the oil first and strain out?
I made this recipe using 15+ drops each of Frankincense and Myrrh. All I smell is the shea butter. I’m planning to remelt it, but I’m not sure how much will be enough. Any ideas?
Julie
I made exactly the recipe, and might have put in a couple more drops of each scent, but not much more. The mixture did not smell very strong, but I’ve used a test bar all week and once it melts into the skin it’s a very nice rich, earthy-spice scent. However, if you want to change it, it does re-melt very well – I had a problem with the size of the molds so I ended up re-melting and re-pouring this recipe about three times. Finally after spilling half of it and ruining one of my hot pads, I got it right. 😛
I have myrrh gum and was wondering if I can use it in this recipe and how I would go about incorporating it?? I have already frozen and ground it but I’m not sure where to go from here.
Thanks!
What do you think would happen if I added turmeric to this recipe?
Hello,
I was so excited to make this lotion, but unable to get the beeswax to melt. It just started clumping together so i put it in my blender and it all seized up. I love the lotion, but the beeswax just falls off my skin when i use it. Any suggestions? I love your website and just started trying a few things. Next i will be washing my face with castor oil and olive oil. Can’t wait!
Thank you!
You could try it as just a straight lotion without the beeswax, although it will have a creamier texture, as opposed to being a solid bar.
I went to the dollar store and bought deodorant and just threw away the toxic deodorant and am reusing the containers to save money
I think the idea for these is great but the cost seems to be prohibitive. They were just going to be extras for friends and I went to my regular lower cost place where I buy all my essential oils, empty containers and molds. Just the oils themselves were over $70 and those were the smallest amounts possible.
Btw, if anyone needs to know of a supplier for these things in the Vancouver BC area, please ‘reply’ me.
Do you sell the things you make like this and the lip balm????
No I don’t.
I am allergic to coconut. Any recommendations for a substitute to use in this recipe?
Could you please tell me where to find instructions on how to detox your arm pits. Thank you
here it is: https://wellnessmama.com/25432/detox-your-armpits/!
hello,
what is Gold mica powder and is it safe?
Just want to say thanks. So much
Can I use Spikenard oil ? If I can, what is the amount ?
Thanks so much for this recipe ! I love your blog.
I read about people not being able to smell their essential oils after the bars dried, and all you need to do is pop a candy thermometer in your melted product and let it cool to 145 degrees before adding your oils. Stir well to incorporate and pour quickly into molds. The flash point on lots of essential oils is much lower than the melted wax so allowing it to cool a little allows your oils to not evaporate. Blending your oils 24 hour prior to use helps them to incorporate and I think it gives you a richer scent.
I noticed in the Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh liquid lotion you mention it will last for 3 weeks. How long is the shelf life for these lotion bars?
Thanks!
Kira
can you make the lotion bars with out the gold mica powder. I don’t have that. Thanks
Certainly!
greetings wellness mama!
thankyou for the gold, frankincense, and myrrh hard lotion bars recipe. i have 2 questions before trying this this weekend:
is the beeswax a melted beeswax measurement, or a shaved/chopped beeswax measurement?
do you think adding, say, a tbls of honey would be ok?
i hope to hear from you! luv your site!
The beeswax measurement is beeswax pastilles or grated beeswax (not melted). I have not tried to add honey but I’m not sure it would work to add to a completely oil base like this.
Such a fun idea! I would love to make these!
Did you realize that Jesus was actually about 2 years old when the wise men found him though. It’s still a really cool idea and even Jesus probably gave his mama a headache from time to time haha! I always wonder what he was like a baby. I can just imagine Mary putting Frankincense on her temples. Just take a nap please Yeshua! 😛
God bless! And Merry Christmas!
Hi can you give me another option to use with frankinsence other than Myrrh? Thanks 🙂
I tried it with honey. The honey just separates from the cooled, hardened bars.
This looks like a great recipe- I am just wondering if it can be done with just the Coconut oil, Shea butter, Frankincense, & Myrrh essential oil drops. I don’t have beeswax or gold, and am wondering if it would still make for a good lotion 🙂
It would still be a great lotion 🙂
I have heard NOT to use plastic containers when adding essential oils to a DIY product as the oils evaporate. Does that happen with these bars?
Thanks!
Thank you for this recipe Katy. I will definitely make some, since I have already ordered Myrrhe and Frankincense oils.
However, thinking of the “gold”, I recently saw The Truth About Cancer and there the suggestion was that it could actually be curcumin.
I must say I would rather put some gold mica powder on my skin than curcumin. 🙂
Would love to recieve e-letters and follow u but can’t find d portal for the add up , can you help ?
Go here to sign up: https://wellnessmama.com/newsletter/
Hello Katie. I really enjoy your website and appreciate all the trouble you go to in exploring and researching natural ways to stay beautiful and healthy. Back in July I broke out into a rash that lasted for weeks. My nutritionist thought this could be auto-immune and so did the conventional doctor because I do have rheumatoid arthritis. The rash has left my skin bumpy and and wrinkly looking. I want to get back that smooth skin I had. Do you have any suggestions? I eat very well and juice my veggies several times a week and drink bone broth daily.
How do you measure a 1/3 cup of Shea butter when it is in a bar form. Do you shave it or chop it?