Fennel has been used throughout the ages for a great variety of purposes.
Apart from its medicinal uses, it has been used for air freshening, food preserving, perfumery, cosmetics, toothpaste as well as an insect repellent. Its crushed leaves are effective in keeping dogs free of fleas.
In Medieval times it was used as a strewing herb. The botanical name for fennel, foeniculum vulgare means “fragrant hay” in Latin.
The flowers and leaves can be combined to produce yellow and brown dyes .