Someone approaching from out of the wilderness will kick up dust as they travel. So, as the man imagines the approach of his young bride, he describes this dust as columns of smoke perfumed with luxurious spices such as myrrh and frankincense. These fragrances are very closely associated with the joy and pleasure of sexual intimacy throughout the Song.

As she approaches, she brings with her these scents. The desire the woman expressed in Song of Solomon 1:12–13 for her scent to bridge the gap between them has now been fulfilled. Even though she is still a great distance from him, he is already overpowered by her scent, as clearly as if she were sitting right next to him.¹