Defined as fingernail or claw, onycha is a Greek translation from the original Hebrew word shecheleth, which derives from “a tear, distillation or exudation”.

What plant does onycha come from?

According to Winifred Walker's All the Plants of the Bible, shecheleth is a form of rock rose (also known as the Rose of Sharon), Cistus ladaniferus var. Cistus creticus, which produces a resin called labdanum.

Where is onycha found?

A common ingredient in the Biblical incense mixtures, Onycha is an ancient Greek word for "Finger Nail". This is the door membrane of a snail-like mollusk found in the Red Sea and imported from Oman. It is a powerful aromatic "fixative" - fixating all aromatics in a mixture together as one.