GOLD, Frankincense and Myrrh. How valuable are these gifts? With gold it is obvious. The other two, both herbal extracts, are less in Western eyes.

Frankincense was a perfume when people thought washing was not needed.

Also in many areas fresh water was too valuable for use in washing.

Myrrh has a wider application and was great value as an embalming fluid. It was used in mummification and therefore anticipated the events following the predicted crucifixion.