Litsea cubeba

Indigenous peoples of Taiwan, known as the Atayal, call Litsea cubeba "maqaw" and have used it as a distinctive culinary spice for centuries. Traditional Chinese medicine incorporated the fruit for digestive and anti-inflammatory purposes. The plant grows wild across forests spanning Assam to southern China, Taiwan, and throughout Southeast Asia. Commercial essential oil production accelerated in the 20th century when manufacturers sought natural alternatives to expensive verbena oil. Perfumers discovered Litsea cubeba offered a cleaner, sweeter citrus profile compared to lemongrass, with fewer grassy undertones. It became a workhorse material in bar soaps where its bright lemon character survives caustic processing. Today, Litsea cubeba remains essential in functional fragrances and increasingly in fine perfumery for its versatility as a bridging note.