What is "labdanum"

Ladanum \Lad"a*num\, n. [L. ladanum, ledanum, Gr. la`danon, lh`danon, fr. lh^don name of a shrub, mastic; cf. Per. l[=a]dan, l[=a]den. Cf. Laudanum.] A gum resin gathered from certain Oriental species of Cistus. It has a pungent odor and is chiefly used in making plasters, and for fumigation. [Written also labdanum.]

n. A sticky brown resin obtained from species of rockrose, used mainly in perfume.

1. n. a dark brown to greenish oleoresin that has a fragrant odor and is used as a fixative in perfumes; obtained as a juice from certain rockroses [syn: gum labdanum]

2. a soft blackish-brown resinous exudate from various rockroses used in perfumes especially as a fixative [syn: ladanum]

Labdanum, also called ladanum, laudanum, ladan or ladanon, is a sticky brown resin obtained from the shrubs Cistus ladanifer (western Mediterranean) and Cistus creticus (eastern Mediterranean), species of rockrose. It has a long history of use in herbal medicine and as a perfume ingredient.