PERFUMES
To make Sweet-Jar or Pot-Pourri.—Take six pounds of bay-salt, beaten fine, twenty-four sweet-bay leaves, torn into strips, a handful of myrtle leaves, of the red part of clove carnations, of syringa or orange-blossom separated from the green calyx, of violets picked from their stalks, six handfuls of lavender blossoms, a handful of sweet verbena leaves, of thyme, of balm, of sweet marjoram, and of rosemary. Dry all these on a sheet spread in a sunny room. Then put them all into a large china jar, sprinkling the pounded bay-salt thoroughly amongst both flowers and leaves. In a short time they will become moist. Stir the contents of the jar well every day for a month, adding a little bay-salt occasionally. Keep the jar in the sun, closely covered with a china lid. When the pot-pourri has been in the jar for a day or two, add four ounces of orris root sliced, two ounces of beaten cloves, and the rinds of three Seville oranges and of three lemons finely pared, cut into strips, and well beaten. Cover the jar as before. Jessamine flowers, myrtle or syringa, or orange flowers, well dried in the sun, can be added at any time to the pot-pourri. Never adulterate pot-pourri by scents bought at a shop.—J. R.
To make Eau-de-Cologne.—Mix together a pint of rectified spirits, an ounce of orange-flower water, two drams of oil of bergamot, two drams of oil of lemon, twenty minims of oil of rosemary, and twenty minims of oil of neroli. Allow the mixture to stand for a couple of months, thoroughly shaking at intervals. Filter, if necessary.
To make Lavender Water without distillation.—Mix together a pint of rectified spirits, four ounces of distilled water, three drams of oil of lavender, three drams of orange-flower water, five minims each of oil of cloves and oil of cinnamon, and four minims of otto of roses. Allow this mixture to stand for a fortnight, then filter through carbonate of magnesia, and bottle. Keep for three months before using.
To make Aromatic Vinegar for Smelling Bottles.—Digest in a bottle for four days, with frequent shaking, a mixture of a pint of acetic acid (90 per cent.), one ounce each of dried lavender flowers, thyme, and rosemary, and twenty grains each of powdered cloves and cinnamon. Strain, filter through blotting-paper, and bottle.
To make Toilet Vinegar.—Mix an ounce of pure acetic acid with a pint of water, and digest therein, for two or three weeks, four ounces of fresh, or two ounces of dried, fragrant flowers or leaves. Among the best for the purpose are rose petals, lavender, elder blossom, rosemary, and thyme.
Scent Bags may be made with almost any dry fragrant leaves or flowers, such as the scented leaves of geraniums, lavender flowers, rose petals, and so on. These are tied up in linen bags, and placed in cushions, or suspended in wardrobes or cupboards. A good recipe is a pound of lavender flowers, two ounces of thyme, an ounce of ground cloves, and two ounces of salt. A more elaborate recipe is as follows: Grind into a coarsely powdered mixture a pound of orris root, a quarter of a pound each of rose petals, lavender flowers, and sandalwood shavings, two ounces of benzoin, a dram each of otto of roses and oil of cloves, a dram of musk, and half an ounce of vanilla pods.