[6] The leaves, along with the stems are very aromatic when crushed with a spicy, citrusy smell,[9][10] hence the common names and the specific epithet benzoin.

[2] The ripe fruit is a red, ellipsoidal, berrylike drupe, rich in lipids, about 1 cm (1⁄2 in) long and is eaten by several bird species.

Spicebush is dioecious (plants are either male or female), so that both sexes are needed in a garden if one wants drupes with viable seeds.

Within its native range it is a relatively common plant where it grows in the understory in moist, rich woods, especially those with exposed limestone.

The brightly colored fruits and early flowers along with the spherical growth form make the plant desirable in gardens.

Promethea moth cocoons, if present, are obvious during the cold season after leaf drop, and resemble dead leaves still hanging from twigs.

Neither of these insects is ever-present in sufficient quantities to defoliate a medium through large spicebush, although very small specimens may suffer even from a single caterpillar.

[18] Native Americans, including the Cherokee, Creek, and Iroquois used the plant for treatments in multiple ailments.