Cloves are the aromatic flower buds of a tree in the family Myrtaceae, Syzygium aromaticum .They are native to the Maluku Islands, or Moluccas, in Indonesia, and are commonly used as a spice, flavoring, or fragrance in consumer products, such as toothpaste, soaps, or cosmetics.Cloves are harvested at 1.5-2 centimetres (5/8-3/4 in) long, and consist of a long calyx that terminates in four spreading sepals, and four unopened petals that form a small central ball.