The question comes up regularly. Sometimes in passing, sometimes a bit more critically: “That anointing oil of yours… does it actually come from Israel?”
Let me answer that quite honestly. Because if there is one thing I personally cannot stand, it is a half-truth. Especially when it concerns something so directly connected to the Bible.
Many people have a certain perception of “anointing oil from Israel.” As if everything in it automatically originates from Israel as well. But if you look a little deeper, you soon discover that this is simply not true. If you go back to the basics, to what God Himself prescribes in the Bible, you see that anointing oil consists of olive oil mixed with various spices like myrrh, cinnamon, or cassia. But those spices do not grow in Israel at all. They didn't back then, and they still don't today. Even then, they arrived via trade routes from other parts of the world.
In other words: the idea that “real” anointing oil must come entirely from Israel is historically and practically untenable.
What it’s really about
There is really only one ingredient that is directly connected to Israel itself: olive oil.
And that is not just a detail. That is the foundation. Throughout the Bible, oil symbolizes the Holy Spirit, dedication, and being set apart. That is the core. So when someone asks if anointing oil “comes from Israel,” the real question is: does the oil come from Israel, or not?
Because that is where the difference is made.
Let’s be very honest about the market
What you see a lot today are products sold as “Israeli” when, in reality, that is hardly the case. The oil comes from somewhere else, the spices too, and the whole thing is then bottled or sold in Israel. And that is enough to use the “from Israel” label.
But let’s be honest: that is primarily marketing.
And I believe you should be transparent about that. Especially when you are offering something that people use in their relationship with God.
How we handle this
The anointing oil we offer is made by Abba Oil. What was decisive for me is this: they use olive oil that actually comes from Israel. In fact, they structurally purchase oil from Israel and are among the larger exporters of it, something surprisingly few people know.
That oil is then brought to the United States, where the anointing oil is blended with the biblical fragrances. So no, the final product is not made entirely in Israel. But the core, the basis of the anointing, does indeed come from Israel.
And to me, that is more honest than pretending something is “Israeli” when, in fact, it is not.
So… what is truly “from Israel”?
Let me put it even more sharply, because this is often kept deliberately vague. A significant portion of the anointing oil sold today as “from Israel” has, in reality, almost nothing to do with Israel. Not the olive oil, not the spices. Both simply come from other countries where these raw materials are available and affordable. What happens then is that the product is bottled, labeled, or sold through a local shop in Israel, and suddenly it gets the “Israeli” stamp.
But let’s be honest: that is not origin; that is positioning.
The problem lies not only in the technical aspect but in the intention. Because they know exactly what image this evokes for Christians. Israel touches something in the heart. It feels biblical, authentic, closer to the origin. And that very feeling is used to give a product more value than it actually has. That grates. In fact, it is deception wrapped in pious language. And understand me correctly, it is not my point that a product must necessarily come entirely from Israel. As explained earlier, that is practically impossible. But if you do make that claim, it must be true. You must be transparent about what actually comes from Israel and what does not. Anything less is just a marketing construct.
Especially with something like anointing oil, which symbolizes dedication, purity, and truth, you would expect honesty to be self-evident. But the reality is that it is often missing here. And that is precisely why this question must continue to be asked.
If you mean: everything comes from Israel, then that product does not actually exist.
If you mean: the core, the oil, comes from Israel, then you are getting a lot closer to the truth.
And ultimately, I find that more important than a label.
Anointing oil is not a marketing product. It is a prophetic symbol. And that is exactly why the story behind it must be accurate.
No pretense.
No half-truths.
Just honest.
Because that is ultimately where true anointing begins.