Myrtle leaves have a sour taste and a pleasantly aromatic smell, emanated even from the flowers themselves. Even myrtle fruits have a special aromatic flavour, which is astringent and a little sour but pleasant. They do not give off the same intense aroma that characterizes the leaves and the flowers. The ancients apothecaries extracted from it a distilled water called Angel Water of Angelica Water, used as a cosmetic for its tonic, astringent, soothing and anti-reddening properties, and which is still being produced by modern herbal cosmetic companies.