<p>Honey is a topical antimicrobial agent that has been used for millennia in wound care. Licensed wound care products containing medical-grade honey first became available in 1999 and are now widely used. Honey's therapeutic properties are largely attributed to its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities. This review provides an insight into the laboratory evidence published in the past 5 years that illustrate how the mechanisms by which honey impacts on wounds are beginning to be understood.</p>