God commanded the Moses to make holy anointing oil and incense. Jesus sent his disciples out into the country to preach and anoint. And in the letter James wrote he recommended that if any Christian is sick to call for the elders in order to be anointed.

Lorem ipsum
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.
Lorem ipsum	Lorem ipsum	Lorem ipsum
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur.	Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.	Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.

Anointing Oils

In Biblical times, anointing oils were made using pure vegetable oils that were typically infused with botanicals. Anointing oils are used to bless and purify a person or an object. Today, anointing oils are still used and are often made in the same manner. Essential oils can also be added to a carrier oil to create a sacred anointing oil.

Exodus 30:22-31 (NIV) includes an anointing oil recipe and describes using it to anoint both an individual and object:

"Then the Lord said to Moses, 'Take the following fine spices: 500 shekels of liquid myrrh, half as much (that is, 250 shekels) of fragrant cinnamon, 250 shekels of fragrant cane, 500 shekels of cassia — all according to the sanctuary shekel — and a hin of olive oil. Make these into a sacred anointing oil, a fragrant blend, the work of a perfumer. It will be the sacred anointing oil. Then use it to anoint the Tent of Meeting, the ark of the Testimony, the table and all its articles, the lampstand and its accessories, the altar of incense, the altar of burnt offerings and all its utensils, and the basin with its stand. You shall consecreate them so they will be most holy, and whatever touches them will be holy. Anoint Aaron and his sons and consecrate them so they may serve me as priests.Say to the Israelites, 'This is to be my sacred anointing oil for the generations to come...'"

1 Samuel 10:1 (NIV) describes how the anointing oil is applied:

"Then Samuel took a flast of oil and poured it on Saul's head and kissed him saying, 'Has not the Lord anointed you leader over his inheritance?'"

1 Samuel 16:12-13 (NIV) tells of the initial anointing of David:

"The the Lord said, 'Rise and annoint him; he is the one.' So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day of the Spirit of the Lord came upon David in power."

Genesis 35:14 (NIV) describes Jacob pouring oil onto a pillar (the anointing of an object):

"Jacob set up a stone pillar at the place where God had talked with him, and he poured out a drink offering on it; he also poured oil on it. Jacob called the place where God had talked with him Bethel."

Luke 7: 36-38 shares how a woman, in tears over her sin, applies fragranced oil to Christ's feet:

"Now one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, so He went to the Pharisee's house and reclineda t the table. When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, and as she stood behind him at His feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them."

Some debate exists over this story, but it's believed that this woman sought to seek forgiveness and bless (anoint) Christ. Regardless, this story reflects the honest and loving desire of this repentent woman to respectfully bless Jesus' feet. This story also shows that anointing of not only the head, but also the feet was prefered at that time. Speculation exists to what type of "perfume" was used by this woman to anoint Jesus' feet. It is likely that she used a very costly virgin olive oil that was fragranced with myrrh or other costly botanicals. It is said that the oil she used was quite precious and may have cost up to a year's salary.

For more information about anointing oils and for recipes for creating your own anointing oils, refer to Aromatherapy Anointing Oils: Spiritual Blessings, Ceremonies & Affirmations by Joni Keim Loughran and Rual Bull.