Dill was known during antiquity.1) With other kitchen spices the dill plant is mentioned in Sanskrit literature, and in the Bible.-) Like that of fennel, anise, and caraway, its cultivation was early extended over the countries of Europe. It was cultivated in England as early as the 10. century.3)

In the treatises on distillation of the 15. and 16. centuries the distillation of dill is mentioned frequently.4) In German drug and spice ordinances dill oil is first mentioned in that of Frankfurt-on-the-Main of 1587.