Agrimony is an herb traditionally used for its tonifying properties of the liver and as a cleanse for skin and blood. A member of the rose family, it is found near hedges and fences throughout England. Bearing yellow flowers with egg-shaped petals on spikes emanating from hairy stems, agrimony exudes a distinctive, pleasant scent that is often compared to apricots but isn't as sweet. During the Elizabethan period herbalists began referring to the plant as philanthropos, perhaps because of its beneficent properties as a medicine, or perhaps because its seeds stick to the clothing of passers by, giving them the "gift" of next year's plants.

The dried, above-ground parts of the plant, harvested shortly before or during summer flowering, are often used in a decoction, herbal tea, or as an essential oil.