In the ancient Near East, most spices were regarded as valuable luxury goods (1 Kings 10:10, 25; Ezek. 27:17–22), particularly those that had to be imported from distant lands. In the Song of Songs 4:13–14 and several other passages of the Bible, there are descriptions of spices, such as the pacar. This small tree has spear-shaped, light green leaves and fragrant flowers. The leaves are dried, crushed and mixed with warm water to make a solution for dyeing fingernails and toenails. The fragrant flowers of the pacar plant are placed in small pouches and worn around the neck by women. Narwastu, this plant grows in the Himalayan countries: Bhutan, Nepal and Kashmir. The fragrant roots and lower stems are dried and used as ingredients for perfumes (Song of Songs 1:12, 4:13; Mark 14:3; John 12:3).

Turmeric may have originated from the leaves of a blue-flowering turmeric plant that grew in Palestine in ancient times. Some of its flowers were used to make a yellow solution and as a dye for food, clothing and walls; they were also mixed with oil and used as a cooking spice, perfume and medicine (Song of Songs 4:14). 

Sugar cane, possibly a long-stemmed, fragrant variety or sugar cane imported into Palestine. It was used to make fragrant anointing oil (Ex. 30:23 “cane”), used by the holy priests of Israel (Song 4:14; Isa. 43:24; Jer. 6:20). Cinnamon is the brown inner bark of a type of evergreen tree. Cinnamon is used as a cooking spice, a fragrance, and an ingredient in holy anointing oil (Ex. 30:23; Prov. 7:17; Song 4:14; Rev. 18:13). 

Frankincense, a white resinous sap, comes from the shrubs or trees of the Boswellia genus found in India, Somalia and Arabia. The frankincense resin is ground into a powder which is burnt to produce a fragrant aroma. Frankincense may also have been an important ingredient in various types of balms and in the holy incense burnt by the Israelite priests (Ex. 30:34-38; Lev. 6:14-15; Song 4:14; Matt. 2:11; Rev. 18:13). 

Myrrh: whilst a few myrrh trees may have grown in Palestine, most myrrh was imported from Arabia and East Africa. This light-coloured, sticky resin oozes from the trunks. Once exposed to the air, it hardens and turns brown. Myrrh resin is crushed and used to make expensive balms and perfumes, including the holy oil for consecration ceremonies (Ex. 30:23-33). Myrrh was also used to embalm the dead (John 19:39; Esther 2:12; Ps. 45:8; Prov. 7:17; Song 1:13, 3:6, 4:6, 5:1, 5, 13; Matt. 2:11). Agarwood, a fragrant resin from tall trees growing in South-East Asia and northern India. Agarwood has a pleasant aroma, but tastes very bitter. Agarwood is used to make perfumes, medicines, and to embalm the dead (Ps. 45:8; Prov. 7:17; Song 4:14; John 19:39).