Description

PIETA anointing oil is the it is the fragrance poured on Jesus after the crucifixion. His body was placed in loving arms of Mary and this heartbreaking moment has its own scent: myrrh & aloe. Check the perfumes of Jesus.

How did Jesus smell? PIETA by BIBLESPA is a biblical anointing oil inspired by one of the most moving moments in the Gospel. The Descent from the Cross and the preparation of the body of Jesus for burial is full of fragrance of myrrh and aloes. But it brings also prayer, silence and remembrance — created as a sensory meditation on the Passion of Christ.

A Sacred Fragrance Inspired by John 19:39

The Gospel of John preserves an extraordinary detail about the burial of Jesus. After Christ died on the Cross, Nicodemus came to Golgotha carrying myrrh and aloes.

“Nicodemus… came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds in weight.”
— John 19:39

Why would the Evangelist remember such a detail? Because fragrance was part of that moment. Myrrh and aloes surrounded the body of Christ. Their aroma accompanied the taking down of Jesus from the Cross and His preparation for burial. It touched the linen, the hands of those preparing His body, and the place where the final acts of love were performed. PIETA J°19 was created to evoke that biblical moment through scent.

What Did Jesus Smell Like?

Of course, in tradition and Scripture, we find many descriptions of what Jesus might have smelled like. Women poured expensive oils on him, such as nard him—though it’s not certain which one. And at his birth, myrrh was offered to Jesus. Now that myrrh returns with a specific power. The scent of Jesus, of which we can be certain. After all, Christ signifies precisely this: anointing.

Myrrh and Aloes — The Biblical Fragrance of John 19:39

Another shocking detail: the amount of perfume that was poured on Jesus! Nicodemus did not arrive carrying one small bottle of perfume. The Gospel speaks of approximately one hundred litrai of myrrh and aloes. Depending on the historical conversion used, this represents roughly 30–33 kilograms of aromatic material. It was an astonishing quantity and pretty extravagant. Such precious gift: pure myrrh and aloe!

Therefore, PIETA is more than a perfume-inspired oil. It is an invitation to encounter Scripture not only through words and images, but also through the sense of smell.

From Golgotha to Michelangelo’s Pietà

The most famous PIETA sculpture belongs to Michelangelo. This famous Renaissance artist put into the stone the moment described in Gospel of John. When you enter St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City, just beyond the entrance on the right, you encounter one of the most famous works of Christian art: Michelangelo’s Pietà.

Mary is eternally young. Her face is peaceful, almost impossibly serene. In her arms rests the lifeless body of Jesus, shortly after He has been taken down from the Cross. There are no crowds around them. No movement. Only the Mother and the Son. And yet, when we return from Michelangelo’s marble to the words of the Gospel, we discover something that sculpture cannot reveal.

This scene had a fragrance.

Vatican perfume: Pietà anointing oil of Jesus

Inside the most famous basilica of Vatican the scents help to build the atmosphere of prayer and contemplation. We created this anointing oil with this scene of PIETA in our hearts. The body of Christ rests across Mary’s lap. His arm falls downward. His wounds remain visible. Michelangelo gives us the image of Jesus and His mother. But evangelist John gives us another detail: the fragrance. This meeting of Scripture, sacred art and scent helped us to create PIETA. The holy oil of Jesus.

PIETA — The Scent of the Passion of Christ

PIETA J°19 is a Christian devotional oil inspired by biblical myrrh and aloes and the mystery of Christ’s Passion, Death and Burial. Its character is solemn, warm and contemplative. The fragrance invites stillness rather than distraction.

Use PIETA while reading the Passion narratives. Keep it beside your Bible during meditation on John 19. We especially recommend it on Good Friday, Holy Week and during the Stations of the Cross. Allow scent to become a bridge between the biblical text and your imagination.

A Christian Anointing Oil for Prayer and Contemplation

PIETA can accompany moments of personal prayer, Christian meditation and spiritual reflection.

A small amount may be used as a personal devotional fragrance before prayer or placed on the hands or wrists, allowing its aroma to remain present during contemplation. But it is also a body oil that is good for your skin, moisturize it and smoothes the skin. This cosmetic is much more than aromatherapy.

PIETA for Priests and the Anointing of the Sick

PIETA can also be a meaningful devotional oil for priests, chaplains, religious and people involved in pastoral ministry. Its association with myrrh, aloes, suffering, death and Christ’s burial makes it particularly suitable as a personal devotional fragrance when praying with people experiencing illness, grief, spiritual distress or suffering. It may also accompany private prayers of intercession or deliverance where appro

PIETA anointing oil of Jesus, can be used by a priest for the sacramental Oil of the Sick. For example in the Catholic Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick.

Myrrh in the Bible — A Fragrance Connected to Jesus

Myrrh appears at significant moments throughout Scripture and has a particularly powerful connection with the life of Christ. At His birth, the Magi bring gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. At Golgotha, myrrh appears again in the Passion narratives. From the beginning of Christ’s earthly life to His burial, fragrance quietly accompanies the Gospel story. PIETA draws inspiration from this ancient biblical tradition of aromatic oils, resins and precious fragrances.

Experience the Gospel Through Scent

We usually encounter Scripture through reading or hearing. Of course, also through art: both music and visual arts. We see sacred history through paintings, icons and sculpture. But together with BIBLE SPA we invite you discover the Bible also with it’s fragrances!

Because fragrance has an extraordinary relationship with memory. A single aroma can awaken an image, a place or an experience long after words have disappeared. Maybe that is why we find so many plants and perfumes in the Holy Bible!

How to Use PIETA J°19

Use a small amount of PIETA as a personal devotional oil, biblical fragrance or a body oil. Apply it to the wrists or hands before prayer, or simply open the bottle and allow the aroma to accompany your meditation. If you have a special designed prayer corner keep it near your Bible or crucifix. Use it during Holy Week and Good Friday, while praying the Stations of the Cross, during Eucharistic Adoration or when meditating on the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary.

You may also offer PIETA as a meaningful Christian gift for a priest, religious, seminarian, retreat participant or someone with a particular devotion to the Passion of Christ.