Chrism oil for personal use?

[Sothron]

I know that chrism is used for chrismation and for consecrating churches. Is it permissible to use it on a personal level for daily spiritual life? I have to confess that one of the best memories of my own chrismation was the (no pun intended) heavenly smell of the oil. I would love to use it or at least have it for use in an incense burner. I have a fear that this is not allowed. Does anyone know for certain?

[MariaRegina]

You can obtain blessed anointing oil from your priest, but Chrism is reserved for Holy Chrismation and for consecrating a church.

If you visit the shrine of St. John of San Francisco, you may obtain the blessed oil, which has a wonderful heavenly odor.
Many miracles have been worked through his intercession and the anointing of oil from his shrine in San Francisco.

[gzt]

No, but holy oil and incense can be used, you can even mimic the scent used in holy chrism. Of what personal use would it be in your devotional life? Just kinda smelling it?

[Sothron]

How does one mimic the scent used?

I would use it in an incense burner or frankly just have it open to smell it. The smell of chrism on my skin was (is) one of the most powerful and uplifting moments of my chrismation, I would love to be able to use it in my daily life.

[gzt]

Well, it would probably be hard to get exactly right, but the mixture is made of some 30 or 40 spices, you could experiment until you get something close and turn that into incense. But the holy chrism itself, it's a sacrament of the church, so you couldn't use it.

[Sothron]

:(

I was afraid that was the answer. I sincerely doubt I as a layman could manufacture the scent of it. I would love to smell that scent, I suppose it will have to wait until I am in a better place. :doh:

[MariaRegina]

:(

I was afraid that was the answer. I sincerely doubt I as a layman could manufacture the scent of it. I would love to smell that scent, I suppose it will have to wait until I am in a better place. :doh:

If you ever have the opportunity to visit an icon that is weeping tears, do so. I visited the miraculous icon of the Theotokos that was being taken around to the ROCOR churches by Joseph of blessed memory. This icon was weeping myrrh. The priest collected the oil on cotton balls, anointed us, and then gave us the balls filled with oil in a small plastic bag to keep. The oil lasted almost two years in our home and frequently, our whole house was filled with the beautiful aroma of a heavenly bouquet. It was indescribable.

The odor was so strong and impressed upon my memory that I can even smell it now as I type.

[Sothron]

I know our house has been very rarely treated to an unusual but incredible scent that comes out from our icon corner. I just wish we had a way to bottle it up!