Buchu, a shrub native to South Africa, grows on the red sandy soils of the Cape Town area. Its pale green leaves are covered with small glands full of essential oils with a fragrance very similar to rosemary and peppermint. African fishermen rub them into their hands to remove the fishy smell when they come home from work. In cosmetology, these buchu essential oils are utilized for their antiseptic, antibacterial and deodorizing properties.