Beat up the soap with the glycerine; dissolve the oils in the alcohol and add to the soap and glycerine. Stir well until the soap is completely dissolved.
| VIII.— | White castile soap | 1 ounce |
|---|---|---|
| Orris root | 4 ounces | |
| Rose leaves | 4 ounces | |
| Oil of rose | 1/2 drachm | |
| Oil of neroli | 1/2 drachm | |
| Cochineal | 1/2 ounce | |
| Diluted alcohol | 2 quarts |
If the wash is intended simply as an elixir for sweetening the breath, the following preparation, resembling the celebrated eau de botot, will be found very desirable:
| IX.— | Oil of peppermint | 30 minims |
|---|---|---|
| Oil of spearmint | 15 minims | |
| Oil of cloves | 5 minims | |
| Oil of red cedar wood | 60 minims | |
| Tincture of myrrh | 1 ounce | |
| Alcohol | 1 pint |
Care must be taken not to confound the oil of cedar tops with the oil of cedar wood. The former has an odor like turpentine; the latter has the fragrance of the red cedar wood.
For a cleansing wash, a solution of soap is to be recommended. It may be made after the following formula:
| X.— | White castile soap | 1 ounce |
|---|---|---|
| Alcohol | 6 ounces | |
| Glycerine | 4 ounces | |
| Hot water | 6 ounces | |
| Oil of peppermint | 15 minims | |
| Oil of wintergreen | 20 minims | |
| Oil of cloves | 5 minims | |
| Extract of vanilla | 1/2 ounce |
Dissolve the soap in the hot water and add the glycerine and extract of vanilla. Dissolve the oils in the alcohol, mix the solutions, and after 24 hours filter through paper. {257}
It is customary to color such preparations. An agreeable brown-yellow tint may be given by the addition of a small quantity of caramel. A red color may be given by cochineal. The color will fade, but will be found reasonably permanent when kept from strong light.