When crushed, the leaves strongly resemble sassafras (Sassafras albidum) in fragrance.

The host plants of the Spicebush Swallowtail are most commonly either spicebush (Lindera benzoin) or sassafras (Sassafras albidum).

Ague Tree, Cinnamon Wood, Common Sassafras, Kuntze Saloop, Laurus albida, Sasafras, Sassafrax, Sassafras albidum, Sassafras officinale, Sassafras variifolium, Saxifrax.

Its generic name is derived from the Ancient Greek dory- "spear" and pherein "to carry", and refers to the anthers in the flower, while its specific epithet is taken from its similar odour to the North American Laurel (Sassafras albidum).