Cooley's Cyclopædia of Practical Receipts and Collateral Information in the Arts, Manufactures, Professions, and Trades..., Sixth Edition, Volume I

by Arnold James Cooley; Richard Vine Tuson

Essence of Am′bergris. Syn. Essentia ambræ griseæ, E. a. simplex, Tinctura a. concentrata, L. Prep. 1. Ambergris (cut very small), 5 dr.; rectified spirit, 1 pint; place them in a strong bottle or tin can, secure the mouth very firmly, and expose it to the heat of the sun, or in an equally warm situation, for 1 or 2 months, frequently shaking it during the time; lastly, decant, and filter through paper.

2. (Guibourt.) Ambergris, 1 dr.; rectified spirit, 3 oz.; digest 10 or 12 days.

3. (Redwood.) Ambergris, 2¹⁄₂ dr.; rectified spirit, 1 pint; macerate for 14 days. Chiefly used as an element in other perfumes. The first is the formula employed by the London houses.

Essence of Ambergris and Musk. Syn. Concentrated tincture of a. and m.; E. ambræ griseæ (odorata), E. a. et moschi, E. regia, L.; Essence royale, Fr. Prep. 1. Ambergris (cut small), ³⁄₄ oz.; 1 or 2 fresh-emptied musk-pods

(or musk, 12 gr.); rectified spirit, 1 pint; proceed as in No. 1 (above).

2. Ambergris, 2¹⁄₂ oz.; bladder musk, ¹⁄₂ oz.; spirit of ambrette (purple sweet sultan), 1 gal.; as last.

3. Ambergris, 2¹⁄₂ oz.; bladder musk, 1 oz.; spirit of ambrette, 1 gal.; as before. The fragrance of the above, especially of the last two, is very powerful, and is much esteemed.

4. Ambergris, ¹⁄₂ oz.; musk and lump sugar, of each ¹⁄₄ oz.; triturate together in a wedgwood-ware mortar, adding oil of cloves, 20 drops; true balsam of Peru, 30 drops, and enough essence of jasmine or tuberose to convert it into a perfectly smooth paste; then put it into a strong bottle with rectified spirit, 1 quart; observing, before adding the whole of the last, to rinse the mortar out well with it, that nothing may be lost; lastly digest for 6 or 8 weeks, as directed in No. 1 (above).

5. Ambergris, 4 dr.; musk, 1¹⁄₂ dr.; sand, 3 oz.; triturate, then add, of oil of cinnamon, 1 dr.; oil of rhodium, ¹⁄₂ dr.; essence of roses and eau fleurs d’orange, of each ¹⁄₄ pint; rectified spirit, 1¹⁄₂ pint; digest as before (or not less than 14 days), and decant and filter. The last two are very fine, though inferior to Nos. 2 and 3.

6. To the last (No. 5), add civet, 1 dr.; salt of tartar, 3 dr.; and an additional pint of rectified spirit. Inferior to the above, but cheaper.