Chinese Cinnamon Wood

Chinese cinnamon appears in texts from 5000 BC, making it one of the oldest documented perfume ingredients. Ancient Chinese emperors used cassia in ceremonial incense to honor ancestors and deities. By 2000 BC, caravans carried the bark westward along trade routes that would eventually connect to the Mediterranean. Egyptian embalmers incorporated cassia into their preparations, while Greek and Roman physicians prescribed it for digestive ailments and aromatic fumigation. Medieval European apothecaries valued cassia equally with gold, storing it in locked chests to prevent pilferage. The spice trade spurred maritime competition among Portuguese, Dutch, and British powers, each seeking exclusive access to Asian growing regions. By the 18th century, plantations in southern China and Vietnam had largely replaced wild-harvested supplies, establishing the commercial infrastructure that still operates today.