Principal Perfumes of the Hebrews, taken from a 12th century Arabic manuscript. The bottom panels show two varieties of spikenard, the most precious of biblical scents, while the panel on the upper left pictures a cinnamon tree. The man in the upper right is extracting gum resin from the trunk of a Judean Balsam tree. Fragrant aromatic substances, including ointments, anointing oils, and incense are mentioned in quite a few places in the Bible. They were used for religious rituals, health, personal (pleasure, cosmetic), and funeral purposes.