Shrub of the Mediterranean basin, it is employed to flavour meat and fish and it is considered as essential for the preparation of grilled and roasted meats. Its leaves contain camphor oil and, for this reason, can be used as natural mothball. The word comes from the Latin "rosmarinus" which means sea dew. Indeed, it is a bush that grows spontaneously on rocky and calcareous soils along the Mediterranean coast and its scent is reminiscent of the pinewoods. Generally it is used in twigs but also in finely chopped leaves.