The art of perfumery : and the methods of obtaining odours of plants; with instructions for the manufacture of ... dentifrices, pomatums, cosmetiques, perfumed soap, etc / by G.W. Septimus Piesse.

  • George William Septimus Piesse
Date:
1855
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The art of perfumery : and the methods of obtaining odours of plants; with instructions for the manufacture of ... dentifrices, pomatums, cosmetiques, perfumed soap, etc / by G.W. Septimus Piesse. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    as sweet as an English violet; the pure white anemone resembles it in scent. The Yellow Wattle, when in flower, is splendid, and emits a most fragrant odour.” Though many of the finest perfumes come from the East Indies, Ceylon, Mexico, and Peru, the South of Europe is the only real garden of utility to the perfumer. Grasse and Nice are the principal seats of the art; from their geographical position, the grower, within comparatively short distances, has at command that change of climate best fitted to bring to perfection the plants required for his trade. On the sea-coast, his Cassias grows without fear of frost, one night of which would destroy all the plants for a season; while, nearer the Alps, his violets are found sweeter than if grown in the warmer situations, where the orange tree and mignionette bloom to perfection. England can claim the superiority in the growth of lavender and pepper- mint ; the essential oils extracted from these plants grown at Mitcham, in Surrey, realise eight times the price in the market of those produced in France or elsewhere, and are fully worth the difference for delicacy of odour. The odours of plants reside in different parts of them, sometimes in the roots, as in the iris and vitivert; the stem or wood, in cedar and sandal; the leaves, in mint, patchouly, and thyme; the flower, in the roses and violets; the seeds, in the Tonquin bean and carraway ; the bark, in cinnamon, &c.
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