A fragrant gum resin obtained from a plant related to parsley, used in perfumery and traditional medicine. It has a warm, balsamic scent with honey-like notes.
From Arabic jawāshīr, the general term for precious gums, though the specific name came through Greek opopanax meaning 'all-healing juice'. Arabic traders were crucial in bringing this resin from its Mediterranean sources to broader markets. The word entered English via Latin in the 16th century.
Opopanax was called 'sweet myrrh' by Arabic perfumers because it had myrrh's complexity but with honey-like sweetness instead of bitterness! This resin was so valuable that it was used as currency in some Mediterranean trading posts.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.