In a modern world full of synthetic ingredients, lab-made scents, and mass-produced formulas, a quiet revolution is growing—one that calls us back to the land, to our roots, and to our sacred stories. At Salves of Jerusalem, our mission is to return to the source—both spiritually and botanically—and to make healing products that are not only effective, but deeply meaningful. And at the heart of this story is one remarkable woman: Queen Esther.
Her beauty, wisdom, and courage are well-known. But her story also reveals something many overlook: the power of preparation, of sacred self-care, and of natural ingredients rooted in biblical tradition. Esther’s six-month bathing ritual in oil of myrrh to prepare for her meeting with King Achashveirosh, wasn’t just cosmetic—it was transformational. Let’s explore what she bathed in, why it mattered, and how it continues to inspire our wellness practices today.
🌿 Myrrh: More Than a Fragrance
“…six months with oil of myrrh and six months with perfumes and women’s cosmetics…” — Esther 2:12
Myrrh isn’t simply aromatic. It is a powerful botanical resin with anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and skin-regenerative properties. Used for thousands of years in ancient Israel and surrounding regions, myrrh was applied to wounds, used in spiritual rituals like the Incense in the Temple, and blended into beauty preparations. It promotes circulation, eases muscle tension, and even supports emotional calm—qualities that made it the perfect choice for Esther’s royal preparation.
Myrrh is not just a symbolic ingredient—it’s a real, living, sacred plant that carries the same healing qualities today as it did then. That’s why it holds a central place in many of our formulations (including the Herbal Family Salve and Biblical Face Serum, and) especially our Herbal Dead Sea Bath Booster.
🛁 The Modern Esther Bath: Our Herbal Dead Sea Bath Booster
Inspired by the baths of our foremothers, I created the Herbal Dead Sea Bath Booster—a sensory, skin-loving soak made with organic biblical myrrh, crystalized Dead Sea salt spheres, and a fragrant herbal infusion of sage, chamomile, lavender, rosemary, cloves, and rosebuds.
Each bath booster is handcrafted and infused with homemade vanilla oil and medicinal-grade myrrh essential oil, echoing the same intention behind Queen Esther’s bathing ritual: purification, preparation, and elevation. The Dead Sea salt spheres are rich in magnesium, calcium, and other minerals known to soothe sore muscles, detox the skin, and ease emotional stress. The myrrh resin, lovingly infused, adds a biblical grounding and spiritual lift that can be felt as well as smelled.
This isn’t just a bath or a “home spa-night”....it’s a reconnection—to the land, to the Torah, and to the wisdom of our ancestors.
🔥 A Fragrant People in the Desert
The Jewish connection to scent and sacred skincare goes even deeper.
“Who is this rising from the desert like columns of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense…?” — Shir HaShirim (Song of Songs) 3:6
In this poetic line, the Jewish people themselves are compared to the rising incense of myrrh and frankincense, a sacred aroma traveling through the wilderness. This fragrance is not just physical—it’s symbolic. It represents the spiritual refinement that comes from journeying while deeply connected to the Creator.
When we use sacred herbs in our salves and self-care today, we’re not just “going natural.” We’re carrying forward a sacred sensory tradition—one that links us to the Mishkan (Tabernacle), to Shabbat (Sabbath), to the Ketoret (Incense), and to the deep feminine power of queens like Esther.
👑 What Esther’s Bath Really Meant
So why did Esther spend six months in oil of myrrh before she even saw the king?
One answer lies in the mystical teachings of preparation. According to Midrash and Kabbalistic sources, the act of bathing in myrrh wasn’t just to soften the skin—it was to purify the body and soul. It was a mikveh of fragrance. And it allowed Esther to embody the High Priest and speak to God, the King of Kings, on behalf of the Jewish people.
“Esther dressed herself in majesty (malchut) and stood in the innermost courtyard, facing the palace [where] the king sat on his imperial throne in the royal chamber.
— The Book of Esther 5:3
Physically, myrrh helped with circulation, reduced inflammation, and left the skin velvety and resilient. Spiritually, it helped Esther step into her destiny—to smell, feel, and carry herself as the queen she was becoming. Divine beauty from the inside out.
Imagine the richness of that aroma—the notes of warm resin, soft florals, earthy oils. She must have glowed. And the scent? Divine.
🕊️ Sourcing From the Land, Guided by the Torah
When you open one of our tins or ceramic jars, or sprinkle a bath booster into inviting hot water, you’re not just using skincare. You’re touching a piece of ancient biblical wisdom—a fragrant bridge from the past to the present.
We believe that the Torah is a map not only for moral living, but for physical wellbeing. The Creator didn’t separate health from holiness. Instead, He filled the earth—and especially the land of Israel—with plants and elements perfectly designed to support our bodies and souls.
✨ From Sacred Story to Self-Care
Reclaiming this wisdom isn’t just a personal act—it’s a spiritual one. In a world that rushes, exploits, and often pollutes, choosing to bathe like Esther is a radical return to sacred slowness. It says:
“I am worthy of preparation. I am a vessel for light. I honor my people and my Creator, and the land and traditions that came before me.”
Whether you’re soaking in our Herbal Dead Sea Bath Booster, massaging a balm into your skin, or simply pausing to smell the roses, you’re doing more than skincare. You’re practicing soul-care.
🙌 Bringing It Home
Queen Esther didn’t transform overnight. Her glow wasn’t from a bottle—it was from deep within, nurtured by six months of ritual, resilience, and righteous refinement. Today, we have the opportunity to reclaim some of these same tools—not just to beautify, but to empower, to heal, and to remember who we are.
So light a candle. Run a bath.
Sprinkle in ancient salts, stir in sacred herbs, and soak like a queen.
Because you are one!
Want to experience Queen Esther’s ritual for yourself?
✨ Try our Herbal Dead Sea Bath Booster—crafted with indigenous Israeli herbs, Dead Sea minerals, Biblical organic myrrh, and healing flowers inspired by Torah and tradition.
