Dry pastels have historically used binders such as gum arabic and gum tragacanth. For this, he mixed gum Arabic, Persian tragacanth and different essences. Additionally, ceresin, gum tragacanth, and methyl cellulose are regular ingredients and serve as stiffeners. Powders using tragacanth as a basis were sometimes called diatragacanth. The principal catagmatics were Armenian bole, gum tragacanth, osteocolla, Cyprus nuts, frankincense, aloes, and acacia. It is likely that an organic binder was also added such as tragacanth gum. It is also used to adulterate Gum tragacanth due to their similar physical characteristics. As with enamel on metal, gum tragacanth may be used to make sharp edges.