Put into an alembic a pound and a half of fresh pickt Rosemary Flowers; Pennyroyal and Marjoram Flowers, of each half a pound; three quarts of good Coniac Brandy; having close stopped the mouth of the alembic to prevent the Spirit from evaporating, bury it twenty-eight hours in horse-dung to digest, and then distil off the Spirit in a water-bath.
A drachm of Hungary-Water diluted with Spring-Water, may be taken once or twice a week in the morning fasting. It is also used by way of embrocation to bathe the face and limbs, or any part affected with pains, or debility. This remedy recruits the strength, dispells gloominess and strengthens the sight. It must always be used cold, whether taken inwardly as a medicine, or applied externally.
52. Another Receipt to make Hungary-Water.
Fill a glass or stone cucurbit half full of fresh gathered Rosemary-tops picked in their prime; pour on them as much Spirit of Wine as will thoroughly soak them. Put the vessel in a water-bath, and having closely luted on the head and receiver, leave it to digest on a gentle fire for three days; at the expiration of which period unlute the vessel, and pour back into the cucurbit whatever liquor you find in the receiver. Then lute your cucurbit again, and encrease the fire so as to cause the Spirit to rise fast over the helm. When about two thirds of the liquor are drawn off, remove the fire, and let the vessel stand to cool; you will find in the receiver an excellent Hungary-Water, which is to be kept in a glass bottle closely stopped. Hungary-water must be drawn off with a brisk fire, or the Spirit of Wine will come over the helm, very little impregnated with the essence of Rosemary.
53. Directions for making Lavender-Water.
Fill a glass or earthen body two thirds full of Lavender Flowers and then fill up the vessel with Brandy or Melasses Spirits. Let the Flowers stand in infusion eight days, or less if straitened for time; then distil off the Spirit, in a water-bath with a brisk fire, at first in large drops or even a small stream, that the Essential Oil of the Flowers may rise with the Spirit. But as this cannot be done without the phlegm coming over the helm at the same time, the Spirit must be rectified. The first distillation being finished, unlute the still, throw away what remains in the body, and, fill it with fresh Flowers of Lavender, in the proportion of two pounds of Lavender Flowers to one pint of Spirit; pour the Spirit already distilled according to the foregoing directions, on the Lavender Flowers, and distil a second time in a vapour-bath.
Take fresh or dried Lavender Flowers, sprinkle them with White Wine, Brandy, Melasses Spirit, or Rose-water; let them stand in infusion for some days, and then distil off the Spirit. The distilled water will be more odoriferous, if the Flowers are dried in the sun in a glass bottle close stopped, and White Wine afterwards poured upon them.
If you would have speedily, without the trouble of distillation, a water impregnated with the flavour of Lavender, put two or three drops of Oil of Spike, and a lump of Sugar, into a pint of clear Water, or Spirit of Wine, and shake them well together in a glass phial, with a narrow neck. This Water, though not distilled, is very fragrant.