Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1875-03-10
Ancient VS.. Modern Pcrf'urnery.

The application of Perfumery is quite
frequently considered to be modern in
vrntion; ancient history. however, and
several passages in Exodus mention the
employment of fragrant substances at a
very early period among the Hebrews
| Even Moses in Genesis speaks Of gum re-
sembiug fraskineense. Among the curl
os,ties exhibited in Alnwck Castle, is a
vase that was taken from An Egyptian
Casncomb, which contains mixture of
| gums and resins which evolve their frayr
odor 20 the present day, although about
5000 years old. The odoriferous gums
| were also mixed with the oils and wax
! used a. that time in lamps, which we're
! designed to illuminate the House of the
| Lord.
GaIen the celebrated physician of Per-
gamos (who lived over 100 years ago)
invented an Unpuent ccratun, Galeni re-
sem 81 ng very much the cold cream of the
present day. Pertumeries in those days
were generally employed in shape of Tn
gnents, preparation composed Of Bal
sam or Oil sweetly scented with one or
more delicate odors. The application was
eonduc ed in an Unctorian an apartment
especially designed for this purpose and
generally adjoining the Apod yterinm con-
nec'ed with the watering places. The art
of preparing this odoramenum originated
IN the Orient. Hence it was conducted to
Greece and finally to Italy. Naples,
Capua, Praepeste and several other cities
were particularly conspicuous in this I'M
guentary traffic. It is said the streets Of
ancient Capua were filled with Ungucntarii
or dealers in unguents.
AS the perversty of manners, corruption !
and deoauchery of the people increased, the
variety of unguents ami BalSams spread %
numbers ad minimum. The unctuous per
fume was usually applied to the hair and
neck once a day; extravagant or . delicate
people however, anoin,ed themselves at
several times in the course of the day, and
women being fond of this fragrant odor,
were not contented by amounting the head
and neck, applied he Uuguent to their
garments. Perfumery was also employed
on certain occasions, as on funeratous,
ORDINATIONS, &c, to sprinkle the sepuchIe
with fragrant oils, was quite customary,
also Walls containing precious perfumes
were deposited therein.
Mutio Frangipani, an alchemist of great
repute, who prepared stomachc which
he named 7os-sotis (sundew) also invented
powder composed Of various spices, orris
root civet &c.,-hence the name Frongipa-
nj. The patchouly plant, from which we
derive an Oil having the most powerful
odor of any of the botanic kingdom, was
introduced into Europe from India and
China Its introduction or originates from
the fact that genuine Indian shawls COM
manded an extravaganza price; purchasers
at that time distinguished them by the r
odor, as they were perfumed with Patc.ou-
ly, European manufacturers had for some
time successfully initiated the Indian fabric,
but could not impart the peculiar odor
At last this patchouly secret was discovered,
the plant was imported and then they re-
gan to palm off their homespun shawls as
real Indian.
In consideration OF so RAINY ingenious dis
coveries in the science of modern chemistry
that have of late years been made in the
manufacture of artificial Esse noes of perfum
merry, commercial enterprise awaited Itself
OF this fact, and nowvarious essences with
numerous odors are manufactured on large
scale, and singularly enough, they are gen.
orally derived from substances of intensely
d gushing odor Many fair brow is damp
eDed with Eau de mille-taeurs unawar that
its essential ingredient is derived from the
drainage OF cow houses. The same NAV be
said of Boquet de Jockey club, the Benzoic
acid entering its com position has a peculiar
odor, indicating its origin l. e. animal ex-
crernant