Scripture Scents
Hyssop
Hebrew ezov
Exodus 12:22 · Psalm 51:7 · John 19:29
Hyssop is the plant of cleansing. It painted the Passover blood on Israel’s doorposts, sprinkled the waters of purification, gave David words for repentance, and lifted sour wine to Jesus on the cross.
In Scripture
Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Psalm 51:7 (ESV)
A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth.
John 19:29 (ESV)
the priest shall command them to take for him who is to be cleansed two live clean birds and cedarwood and scarlet yarn and hyssop.
Leviticus 14:4 (ESV)
At the first Passover, Israel dipped “a bunch of hyssop” in the lamb’s blood and touched it to the lintel and doorposts (Exodus 12:22). In Leviticus 14 it is used with cedarwood and scarlet yarn to cleanse. David prays, “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean.” John records that a sponge of sour wine was put “on a hyssop branch” and held to Jesus’ mouth, echoing the Passover at the moment of the cross.
What it is today
The Hebrew ezov was probably not the plant sold as hyssop today. Many scholars identify it as Syrian oregano (Origanum syriacum), the bushy, aromatic herb of za’atar, which grows from rock walls across the region and makes a good sprinkling brush. Today’s hyssop, Hyssopus officinalis, is a European mint-family herb, and it is the plant whose oil perfumers buy.
In the bottle
Hyssopus officinalis
Herbal camphor with a sweet, honeyed-medicinal edge. Strong and old-world.
First sniff: Sharp camphor-herbal with a sweet, honeyed-medicinal edge. Once it settles: Warm, herbaceous and slightly spicy. Reminds people of: Old herbal liqueurs, cough drops, wild hillside herbs.
Hyssop oil is herbal, camphoraceous and slightly sweet, somewhere between sage, rosemary and lavender. It is a top note that brings a clean, medicinal freshness to aromatic and fougère blends. Hyssop oil contains pinocamphone and should be used sparingly and kept away from anyone with epilepsy. Follow your supplier’s safety data sheet.
Safety: Very potent — use sparingly and follow your supplier’s safety data sheet.
Blends well with
Lavender, Rosemary, Myrtle, Cedarwood, Frankincense, Bergamot.