Pyrethrin and pyrethroids are used indoors, in gardens and the horticulture industry, and in agriculture.
It is produced from the powdered flowers of certain species of pyrethrum, plants in the genera Chrysanthemum and Tanacetum.
[3] Pyrethroids are synthetic insecticides based on natural pyrethrum (pyrethrins), such as permethrin.
A common formulation of pyrethrin is in preparations containing the synthetic chemical piperonyl butoxide: this has the effect of enhancing the toxicity to insects and speeding the effects when compared with pyrethrins used alone.
In the novel Anna Karenina, the character Kitty used Persian powder to sanitize beds in an unclean hotel.