This yellow-brown essential oil is steam distilled from an herb native to southern India. It has a potent fruity odor. The leafy green plant, which grows 12-18 inches tall and sports tiny, puffy yellow flowers, is revered by the people of the area who use the flowers in religious or ceremonial offerings. The whole plant is distilled just before the flowers open.

Traditionally, Ayurvedic healers in India have long used the herb for all manner of women's reproductive issues, from helping to support regular menses to easing menopausal concerns. Davana can also assist with minor "sniffles" and people there often apply it to the skin when encountering life's minor "lumps and bumps". There is a popular folk belief that while Davana smells the same to everyone while in the bottle, it takes on a different individual fragrance of its own depending on who is wearing it.

In modern times, Davana is popular in perfumery to provide a fruity top-note and as a flavoring agent in bottled beverages and baked goods. Davana really shines when used for emotional concerns. When life really gets to us, it soothes the nerves, restores emotional calm, and is exceptional for quieting the mind.