[ pə'mandə , 'pɒməndə ]
■ noun a ball or perforated container of mixed aromatic substances used to perfume a room or cupboard or (formerly) carried as a supposed protection against infection.
↘an orange studded with cloves and hung in a wardrobe for a similar purpose.
Origin
C15: from OFr. pome d'embre , from med. L. pomum de ambra 'apple of ambergris'.