Onycha Shell

Country of Origin:  Red Sea

What is Onycha?  Onycha is the door membrane of a snail-like mollusk found in the Red Sea.  This is one of the ingredients used in the Holy Incense in Exodus 30.  Our Onycha is cleaned and ready to use.  It needs to be beaten into a very fine powder and then can be added to your other ingredients.  Onycha when prepared properly acts as a fixative and enhances the other ingredients in an incense mixture.  Use it in small amounts.

Many sources that believe Onycha is an essential oil, however, we have prayed and feel that it is in fact an ingredient from the snail-like mollusk found in the Red Sea.  Onycha that is not cleaned will have a slight fish odor and when burned smells like burnt hair.

Easton's Bible Dictionary Definition

Onycha:  a nail; claw; hoof, (Heb. sheheleth; Exodus 30:34), a Latin word applied to the operculum, i.e., the claw or nail of the strombus or wing-shell, a univalve common in the Red Sea. The opercula of these shell-fish when burned emit a strong odour "like castoreum." This was an ingredient in the sacred incense.  These dictionary topics are from M.G. Easton M.A., D.D., Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Third Edition, published by Thomas Nelson, 1897. Public Domain, copy freely.