The species name aromatica is derived from Latin (aromaticus meaning spice-like) and refers to the smell of the dammar (resin).

This species was one of the main sources of camphor and attracted early Arab traders to Borneo, at that time being worth more than gold, and used for incense and perfumes.

It is a large emergent tree, up to 65 m[2] or even 75 m[4] tall, found in mixed dipterocarp forests on deep humic yellow sandy soils.

Bergenin, malaysianol A, laevifonol, ampelopsin E, α-viniferin, ε-viniferin and diptoindonesin A can be isolated from the stem bark of D.

[5] Dryobalanops aromatica is one of several tree species known to exhibit a behavior called crown shyness.