On the Trail of the Scents of the Bible

On August 2, 2025, we welcomed Korona Schreiter, the Conference Women’s Ministries Director,
to Nordhausen. After the morning service, lunch together outdoors, and a short walk through Nordhausen, around 30 women heard Korona Schreiter speak on the topic of “Scents of the Bible” in the afternoon. First, we considered which scents accompany us and remind us of things in our lives. It was very interesting to hear what each of the women had to say. It was a very special experience.
Then we thought together about where a person's sense of smell is located and realized that it is in every single cell of the body.
After that, we immersed ourselves in the world of aromatic essences that appear in the Holy Scriptures. Korona had brought many small bottles with different scents, which we tried to guess by smelling them. It wasn't that easy. After much guesswork, Korona “revealed” the various scents and explained the meaning and biblical references for each one. A famous example is the sweet smell of incense, which in the Old Testament symbolizes worship and prayer (Exodus 30:34-38). Nowadays, we tend to think of incense as burnt smoke, which is often perceived as an unpleasant smell. However, incense oil smells completely different and much more pleasant.
The anointing oil, nard oil, which Mary of Bethany used to anoint Jesus (John 12:1-8), shows our appreciation and love for Jesus. Hyssop oil stands for forgiveness, new beginnings, and spiritual renewal. Hyssop oil is often used in aroma lamps or as a bath additive to promote concentration and achieve a calming effect. It is also said to have anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties.
We also considered how we can be a fragrance for God, how we can “exude our fragrance,” and concluded that we “exude our fragrance” when we are anointed—an archetype of baptism.
At the end, we had a quiet and sacred moment. Each woman received a few drops of an oil mixture (anointing oil made from nard, myrrh, sandalwood, cypress, frankincense, palmarosa, and jojoba) on the palm of her hand, and anyone who wanted to was welcome to anoint their neighbor's forehead. It was a very special experience.
After a leisurely refreshment break, lovingly prepared by the men of our congregation, we all drove home in a happy mood and with new scents in our noses.
According to a report by Helga A.