Sweet woodruff is the fragrant flowering herb Galium odoratum, a low woodland groundcover of the madder family whose starry white blossoms and whorled leaves are prized less for how they taste fresh than for the warm, hay-like, vanilla-and-almond scent they release as they wilt and dry. Steeped in Rhine wine it makes Germany's traditional Maibowle (May wine) and gives its name and flavour to woodruff syrups, jellies and the bright-green "Waldmeister" sweets.