It grows to be a small tree or tall shrub, rarely reaching 20 feet (6 m) in height.

The flowers are small, with white petals, and very fragrant, appearing in March and April.

The scented bark is fissured, pale yellowish brown, and may be covered in lichen.

[1] Cascarilla bark contains anything between 1% and 3% volatile oils, a unique series of diterpenoid compounds called cascarillins, lignins, tannin, and resins.

There is also a long list of flavory terpene and diterpene compounds, including pinene, vanillin, D-limonene, and thujene.