Labdanum

Description

A resinous pitch obtained from leaves of evergreen shrubs of the Cistus genus native to the Mediterranean region. It was historically used in herbal medicine and is still used in the preparation of some perfumes and vermouths. Examples are:

• Cistus creticus (may be Levantine myrrh) - native to Syria, Palestine, Lebanon.
• Cistus ladanifer - native to Spain and northwest Africa.
• Cistus laurifolius - native to Asia Minor and the Balkans.

Synonyms and Related Terms

labdano (Esp.); ladanum; ladan; ladanon

Resources and Citations

• M.Serpico, R.White, "Resins, Amber and Bitumen" in Ancient Egyptian Materials and Technology, P.Nicholson, I.Shaw (eds.), Cambridge University Press, 2000, p. 430-474.