Britannica
Sources used in this answer
Why are Cistus plants used in soaps and scented products?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Malvales
A fony baobab tree (Adansonia rubrostipa), estimated to be more than 1,000 years old, in Madagascar.
Cistus plants, commonly known as rock rose, are used in soaps and scented products because they yield a pleasantly fragrant, bitter oleoresin known as labdanum (or ladanum).123
This resin is produced by various species within the genus, most notably Cistus ladanifer. Because of its aromatic properties, labdanum has long been valued as an ingredient in perfumery and as a scented additive in various consumer goods, including soaps.413