The record-union., 1894-08-25

Virtues and Peculiarities of Per-
fumes = Toilet Soaps Should be
Treated Carefully = Pomades and
Hair oils.
"There is national taste in perfumes
as distinctive as national features, ex-
preston, or DRESS" said the manager Of
the American branch of a well-known
ported our goods we brought promi-
nently forward those perfumes which had
met with favor in England, but we soon
learned that Americans had their own
preferences. There is one scent pre-emi-
nently the favorite, and that is sandal
wood. All the popular perfumes in this
country for the last few years have had
sandalw ood for the base. 1t may surprise
you to know that there are not less than
thirty-five such composite odors."
This statement led to the inquiry
whether it had become or was likely to
become the fashion to select particular
perfumes, which should supersede all
others, each individual making choice of
some special 0X TRACK or scent.
SIT was the fashion century ago. was
the reply, ''for the young beaus TO adopt
the favorite perfume OF their lady love
and flaunt it on all occasions in much the
same manner as the knights wore their
ladies' colors. We have not yet reached
that stage of sentiment, though it is un-
deniable that ii is becoming the fashion
for ladies to adopt some special perfume,
which becomes identified with them as
surely as their fayorite flower"
The history of perfumes is both curious
and interesting. They had their origin
in the burning of incense, and on the
walls of Egyptian temples may be seen
at this day formulas used by the priests
for the preparation of the perfumes re-
quired for the different festivals. 1t is
supposed that Kings and mobiles bribed
the priests to reveal their secrets, and
thus, like the precious gift of fire, the
treasure became the property of man
kind.
1t was noticed in early times that per-
fumes preserved animal substances from
parasites and consequent decay, and the
knowledge was soon turned to account in
the enbalming of the dead. But, al
though this practice is familiar to every
nation, the application of the preserva-
tive principle is not applied except in
ing. 1t will be of interest to those who
delight in perfumes to know that they
possess great hygieuic value.
1t is related that in the cholera cpl
denies not single workman employed
in the manufacture OF perfumery in Paris
or London took the disease. This state
ment is not the authority of newspaper
but is embodied in work of
rare value by Eugene Rimmel, the
n, 4. IL oil
the case of four thieves who passed un-
scathed during the plague of Marseilles
and robbed tire dead with impunity,
they having protected themselves against
contagion by the free use of aromatic
vinegar.
A writer in French scientific journal
states that perfumes counteract malarial
vapors. In proof of his assertion he men
tions that the Island of Ternate enjoyed
the reputation of a remarkably healthful
climate until the Dutch destroyed the
spice trees, since which time it has been
devastated periodically by frlghtful epi-
denies. This theory is of especial worth
to us Americans, for if it is by planting
sweet-smelling or aromatic trees and
shrubs around our suburban dwellings
that we may rid ourselves Of malaria we
shall have gained much.
Musk is introduced much more than is
generally known. 1t gives strength to
perfume, but after the more
delicate scent has vanished it is objection
able to many. The test of really fine
perfume is not the pleasure that it gives
when first used, but whether or not it be-
comes STALE"
1t is perhaps by reason OF the difficulty
of getting extracts entirely free from
musk that sachets have to large extent
liquid perfumes. The latter
still find place on the toilet table, and are
the best headache cures known, while
their efficacy in the bath is a luxury
no woman having once experienced will
willingly forego.
In using sachets care should be taken
that the perfumes harmonize. For in
stance, where one scent is used for bodice
should not overpower it. There is just
as surely discord in perfumes as there
is in color or sound.
Mentioning perfumed gloves reminds
one of the story that is related of Queen
Elizabeth, who was SO pleased with pair
brought TO her from Italy that she kept
them on constantly, and wore them when
she had her portrait painted.
An authority on the subject says that
nervous persons should savoid composite
perfumes, probably on the same princi-
pie that a dyspeptic should abstain from
made dishes.
1t is to be hoped that the practice of
perfuming the body by means of hypo-
dermic injections may not obtain favor
among us. Twas introduced in Europe
few years ago. but several cases of blood
which resulted i'll one or two
deaths, put a stop to the fad. The re-
vival of the delightful fashion of laying
herbs among the body
linen meets with more and more favor.
1t must be well, therefore, to mention
that in England lavender, which is the
favorite scent, is believed to attract
open to any such objection.
"It is astonishing" said manufacturer
of toilet soaps recently, "how wasteful
women are with fine soap. Those who
would reprimand q servant sharply for
dropping q five-cent cake into bucket
or tub OF water will deliberately hold one
that costs 81 % under a hot-water faucet,
and then throw it, wet, upon soap-dish,
which often has no drainer 1t is, more
over, very provoking for US, who, in
order to give good value for the money,
make our soaps the reverse of wasteful
by leaving them in drying-rooms for a
year or longer. No soap should ever be
dipped into hot water or be allowed to
fGlldl0 W0Js III SHOultt 10 l0lb cOVeFeu
with lather, but so that it may drain.o
White, yellow and brown soaps are apt
to be the purest. Fancy colors please the
eye, and, of course, when sent out by
reliable manufacturer, contain nothing
which is injurious to the skin, but in
cheap soaps stick tothe plain colors. The
same authority, himself manufacturer.
states that fairly cheap soap may be as
pure as the most expensive for the cost
n
used. Moreover, soaps which are high in
price are not always dearest, for soap that
is properly dried will last twice as long
as that which, though sold for two-thirds
the price. is really dearer by reason of
the water it contains making it wasteful.