琥珀是松科松属植物的树脂化石，并非树的汁液，其状态透明似水晶，光亮如珍珠，色泽如玛瑙。自新石器时代开始，它的色彩及自然美就被人们赞誉。它是从古至今备受重视的宝石，琥珀能制成各种装饰物。琥珀的品种有花珀、虫珀、水珀、石珀、金珀、香珀、灵珀、翳珀、明珀、蓝珀、腊珀等，尤以含有完整昆虫或植物的琥珀较为珍贵。现在，琥珀可用作香水的成分，可作为民间医药愈合剂，也可作为饰品。

琥珀可分为五个级别，根据其化学成分的基础上定义，因为它源于质感为软和黏的树脂，有时它会含有动植物的材料包裹其中。若琥珀在煤层中也被称为树脂体，而「灰黄琥珀 (ambrite)」这字词是特别应用于在新西兰煤层中找到的灰黄色琥珀。

Amber is fossilized tree resin (not sap), which has been appreciated for its color and natural beauty since Neolithic times. Much valued from antiquity to the present as a gemstone, amber is made into a variety of decorative objects. Amber is used as an ingredient in perfumes, as a healing agent in folk medicine, and as jewelry.