Mapping GCxGC: Frankincense vs Myrrh

Bottles of Liquid FragrancesIt seems like every December, the world becomes just a little more interested in frankincense and myrrh. Just what are these gifts mentioned in the Christmas story? And what sets them apart?

Frankincense and myrrh are both aromatic tree resins. Frankincense comes from the boswellia tree, and myrrh is a product of the commiphora tree. They have been used in perfumes and incense for thousands of years. Both resins can be dissolved into essential oils, making them ideal subjects for GCxGC-TOFMS examinations.

Frankincense and Myrrh Chromatograms

GCxGC Chromatograms depicting frankincense and myrrh

When the chromatograms of these substances are compared, it is immediately obvious to even a layperson that they are, in fact, very different. However, a skilled mass spectrometrist can recognize an abundance of terpenes in myrrh at just a glance, and furanosesquiterpanoids in frankincense that are not present in myrrh.

Listen to Liz Humston-Fulmer, an Application Chemist at LECO, give a short video introduction to how GCxGC chromatograms such as these two above can be read like a map, making it easier to identify different types of samples and what sets them apart.

 

Explore additional stories

Building Strong Foundations Webinars

Building Strong Foundations Webinars

Cement forms the basis of virtually the entire worlds' infrastructure. Despite its ubiquity, it is a surprisingly complex mixture of ingredients, such as lime, silica, alumina, and more. Some of these ingredients are known for releasing greenhouse gases into the...

Confident Characterization of Disease Biomarkers with LECO

Confident Characterization of Disease Biomarkers with LECO

Gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS) is a well-established and robust analytical platform for targeted and untargeted metabolomics. Its high chromatographic resolution, reproducible retention indices, and the availability of comprehensive spectral...