Great attention has always been devoted to fragrances and oils in Middle East culture.
Oils, in particular, had hygienic and medicinal purposes.
Symbolically, oil was used in the anointing of the high priests.
Exodus 30 gives great detail to the mixture of oil and fragrances that were prepared for the anointing process.
A vivid description is given to us in Psalm 133 of the anointing of the original high priest, Aaron.
“It is like the precious oil poured on the head… running down on Aaron’s beard, down upon the edges of his robes”.
Can you imagine the positive impact to those around who smelled the anointing fragrances while Aaron was being anointed?
