The flowers, roots, and woods employed in perfumery are nearly all grown abroad, and even when raised in the United States are seldom used for perfumery. Essential or volatile oils are obtained by distillation. From this grease the oil may be extracted by alcohol. Sometimes the flowers or other odorous bodies are macerated in alcohol.
Essences are solutions of volatile oils in alcohol.
The term tincture is sometimes used to express the same idea. The dried flowers and rasped woods or roots are used in the manufacture of sachets. There are three varieties. The Tonquin or Chinese is the finer, but is apt to be adulterated. The Essence of Mirbane and flavoring ethers are obtained by the chemist.