Perfumes and their preparation

by George William Askinson

Sulphide of Potassium,

liver of sulphur, hepar sulphuris, potassii sulphuretum, the pentasulphide of potassium, is obtained by fusing together potash and sulphur, in the shape of a leather-brown mass which is soluble in water and on exposure to the air is gradually decomposed with the development of the offensive sulphuretted hydrogen gas; hence it should be preserved in well-closed vessels. An aqueous solution of this substance forms with lead or silver salts a black precipitate of sulphide of lead or silver, and is used for some hair dyes.

Starch Flour

(amylum) is prepared from various vegetables such as potatoes, rice, arrowroot, sago, etc., and when pure appears as an insoluble white powder which the microscope shows to be grains consisting of many superimposed layers. In commerce the price of the different varieties of starch fluctuates greatly; in perfumery well-cleansed potato starch can very well be used for dusting powders, and the so-called poudre de riz; in this country, corn starch is preferable.

Vanillin,

that is, the body to which vanilla owes its fragrance, is now made artificially and can be used in place of vanilla for soaps and pomades.

Vaselin.

In the distillation of petroleum there remain in the still as a residue large quantities of a substance which when purified is colorless and, according to the nature of the petroleum, at ordinary temperatures has either the consistence of lard, melting under the heat of the hand, or forms an oily liquid. In perfumery vaselin can be used like fat or oil, over which it has the advantage in that it always remains odorless and free from acid; hence it is very appropriate for the manufacture of pomades. The market affords numerous varieties of this substance, under different names: vaselin (oil and solid), albolene (oil and solid), cosmolin, etc., etc.

Spermaceti

is a substance found in the skull cavities of several whales and dolphins. In its properties it stands midway between beeswax, paraffin, and firm fats. In the living animal spermaceti is fluid, but after its death it congeals to a white crystalline mass of a fatty lustre, which melts at 40° C. (104° F.), and is frequently used for fine candles as well as for other articles.