Parsha Mitzvot-Ki Tisa-Mitzvah 111 – Concept 310

“The Incense that you shall make – in its proportion you shall not make for yourselves; it shall remain holy to you, for God. Whoever makes its like to smell it shall be cut off from his people.” (Exodus 30:37-38) We may not reproduce the incense formula. (Rambam, Hilchot Klei Hamikdash V’haovdim Bo – The Laws of The Temple Vessels and Employees)

It is not appropriate for a commoner to use the Royal Scepter. (Sefer HaChinuch) The only one of the five senses that was not used in the sin of the Tree of Knowledge was smell. Eve listened to the snake, and saw, touched, and tasted the fruit of the tree. The Incense with its eleven spices represented the repair of the Ten Sefirot and the Or Makif – The Protective Light surrounding them. The Incense was a unique gift with incredible power and cannot be treated as a nice perfume. (Ba’alei Tosafot)