The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-03-31
PERFUMES AND ROYALTY.

CATHERINE DE MEDICI II was who in.
troduced into France the custom Of using
perfumes. When she went to France. upon
her marriage with Henry II, she took with
her one of the most skilled manufacturer
Of perfumes in all Italy. This parsonage
was none other than Rene. a Florentine,
who opened a shop in Paris, and under
the patronage Of the young Queen. his
; products soon became all the rage. Per
haps his aristocratic customers were the
| more numerous because 1t was whispered
I that his skill in mixing poisons quite
i equaled his art in preparing perfumes and
cosmetics. The scented gloves which end
ed the life OF Jeanne d'Albret. Queen of
Navarro, and mother of Henry ~, came
| from his establishment and were a gift
to the unfortunate Queen from Catherine
| de Medici. He also made the pomander
/ chain sent by Catherine to Elizabeth Of
England when there was talk of the mar
riage of the latter and the Duke d'Alencon,
GATHERINGS youngest son. These ponan-
ders formed the most elegant mode of US
Ing perfumes which has ever been invent
ed. The pomander was a hollow ball OF
gold or silver. perforated with small holes
and filled with scent in a solid form, the
odor of which was called forth by holding
the pomander In the hand. The one given
to Queen Elizabeth was a chain composed
Of twelve pomanders of gold filagree, en-
riched with jewels and curious enamels. and
each link of the connecting chain set with
a diamond. This must have been a most
pleasing gift to the English Queen, as her
fondness for sweet scents is a matter OF
history.
The rage for perfumes reached Its height
during the reign of Louis XIV. Throughout
the Continent his court was known as the
Scented Court Nine. de Pompadoure
spent 800. 900 annually on this part of her
toilet alone. 1t was the fashion when
giving a great entertainment for the hostess
to inform her guests what particular odor
she would use for seeming her rooms. and
each guest would use that odor in making
her toilet. and thus the delicate effect Of
a unity of scents was produced. At court
a different perfume was used for each day
of the week. Probably one reason strong
perfumes were In such great demand was
on account of the prevailing disregard of
all rules of cleanliness at that time. The
palace of Versailles did not contain a single
bathroom until one was built for Marie
Antoinette.
During the period of the great Revolu-
ton perfumes went entirely out of fashion
in France. but. came into favor again under
Empress Josephine and have ever since
been in vogue.
Alexandra, England's new Queen, has a
fondness for that delicate scent called
wood-violet. Victoria seldom used any per-
fume but lavender water. large quantities
of which were yearly manufactured for her
use. The Empress Frederick delights in
cologne water. especially in the bath, in
which she uses a quart of cologne daily.
The Empress of Austria preferred for toilet
use the delicate orange scent known as
Portugal water. The Queen Regent of
Spain has made especially for her own use
a delicious perfume from the spicy carna-
ton. The Empress Eugene cherishes a
true Spanish taste for strong odors. her
favorite being lemon verbena and sandal
wood. Queen Marie Amelie, wife of Louis
Philippe, was fond Of orange flower water,
the scent bringing to mind the gardens of
her native Sicily. The beautiful and ILL
fated Marie Antoinette had n great fond
ness for perfumes, her favorite being es-
eence of roses.