Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1857-1858, 1857-02-04
The Method of making Perfumes.

discovery has recently been made in
France which bids fair to revolutionize the
perfulnery business. Already arrangements
have been made to carry it out on an extern
sve scale in Algeria. 1t had its origin in the
analytical examination of wheat by French
chemist, n. Million. That gnetleman found
that, by means of ether, be could dissolve out
of the grains or -four of wheat, peculiar sub
stance, which retained for years the odor Of
the grain in concentrated form.
This fact gave him hint, which he has
acted on, until he has finally projected a pro-
cess that cannot fail to be Of great conse-
quence TO his native country. A nation that
exports six millions of dollars in perfumery,
besides consuming no small amount of it at
home, ought to be grateful for any improve
ment in so important branch of industry.
The attention of perfuners has!leng been turn
ed to this subject, and many substances have
been employed by them, which are not special
favorites with those who use the Extracts and
Eau des MlLIeJ3euYs. Indeed, we would not
advise our lady friends to enter too infinitely
into the study of the origin of those balmy
odors which they so much admire. In such
matters as these, Pope's line is most emphat.
ically true:
"Where ignorance is bliss, It's folly to be WISE
1t is not merely the cost of the distiation
of the aromatic principles from flowers which
has caused the manufacturer to look TO other
sources for his supply. The great difficulty of
preserving these delicate odors, during the
process of distillasion, has had its influence.
Rose water, for example, as everybody knows,
does not preserve the delicious fragrance OF
the fresh flower damp with the dews of morn,
ing. 1t results only from the odor of the dead
and withered petals, the same change in the
aromatic principle having taken place during
process Of distillstion, which occurs when the
flower is allowed to wither in drawer. The
extreme delicacy OF the aromatic principle ca l.
not resist the application OF the necf ssary a.
mount of heat. Indeed, so sensitive to sxter-
nal Influences are those odoriferors es3ences,
that when separated by the new rroe SIS, they
are destroyed even by the small amount of
foreign matter which exists in we'll and river
water, while perfectly pure distilled water re-
tans them for an indefinite length of time.
The new process recommends itself as well
by its simplicity as by its greater excellence
II consists in exhausting the fresh flowers by
some solvent, such as ether or sulphuret Of
carbon. If the action is complete, the flowers
are completely deprived of their ordorous
principle, which is found in the ether. This
being distilled off, leaves a residue either solid
or seini>fud which cotains the aromatic
principle, mixed with some coloring matter,
wax, oil, aud other constituents of the flower
If these are allowed to remain ia contact with
the odoriferons matter, they viii eventually
destroy it. The separation of them is the diff
cult part Of the new process Il is usually effect
ed by means Of pure alcOhoi. which dissolves
the Dr. fnne with very small amount of the
other substances, leaving the great bulk Of
these last behind
SO perfectly does this process isolate the
perfume, that the slightest alteration ia the
tlowers can be detected in the result. Tie
fresh odor can only be obtained from fresh
flowers. If those which have been withered,
ever SO little, have been employed, the exact
amount of injury to be flower win be repeat
ed in the perfume. Even the time of day at
which the flowers have been gathered will
have an influence upon the result, so that il
becomes necessary TO study the habits OF diff
ferent plants in reference TO their odor.-Some
must be gathered before the dew has had time
to dry upon them; others require the heat of
the sun TO develop their fragrance.
Thus prepared, NJ. Million has fund the per.
fame remarkably Interchangeable. TX is not
readily dissipated like the essences, but re.
mains without perceptble alteration, even ar
ter having been long exposed to the air in open
vessels SO little is lost by this process that
the hnsl resul: represents precisely the amount
of perfume possessed by the original quantity
of flowers operated upon so that il will give
10 THE sane weight OF fat or oil, the iull
strength Of odor vhci the flower Itself os-
sessSd.