Improvements relating to the Manufacture of Perfumes.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Nov., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 7th July, 1892-Accepted. 13th Aug. 892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to the Manufacture of Perfumes.
I ROBERT AUGUSTUS CHESEBROUGH, of 42 Holborn Viaduct in the City of
London, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The object of this invention is to simplify the manufacture of perfumes from
flowers, by collecting the perfume from flowers whether growing or plucked,
and conveying it direct to the alcohol such as is ordinarily used by perfume
manufacturers..
In carrying out my invention, I enclose a certain number of the plants, say,
tuberoses, or it may be the blooms only, in trays, in an airtight casing, and I force
into the casing, by means of suitable blowing apparatus, a current of air. The
air, which becomes laden with the perfume of the flowers, passes out at the opposite
side of the casing, by a pipe, into the lower part of a closed vessel containing
alcohol, or other suitable solvent. As the perfume-laden air bubbles up through
the alcohol, it gives up more or less of its perfume to the alcohol.
One or more of these alcohol containing vessels may be used according to require-
ments; when several are used, the perfume-laden air being caused to pass through
each in succession.
In some cases I may find it profitable to pass the air, after its passage through the
alcohol, through a similar vessel containing distilled water, where it will render up
practically the last vestige of perfume, and produce a perfumed water.
The vessel which I may use to contain the alcohol is somewhat like an inverted
bottle, with a cock in the neck, but any other kind of closed vessel may be used,
means being provided to draw off the perfume-laden contents.
Any perfume that may be carried with the air after passing through the alcohol
or the water, may be permitted to escape.
Dated this 27th day of November 1891.
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to the Manufacture of Perfumes.
1, ROBERT AUGUSTUS CHIESEBROUGH of 42 Holborn Viaduct, in the City of
London, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention relates to improvements in the method of extracting perfumes
from flowers with the object in view of securing an extract of a delicate nature,
and free from undesirable properties commonly possessed in an extract where
grease is employed as a vehicle, in the processes known as enfleurage and
maceration.
-
My invention consists in forcing the perfume-laden air surrounding the flowers,
or other odoriferous substances, directly into an absorbent,-such, for example, as
the alcohol commonly prepared for such purposes, and known as Cologne spirits,
and also in forcing the perfume-laden air surrounding live growing plants,
into an absorbent, and thereby securing a perfume free from the contaminating
effect of the scent of any juices, or decay, attendant upon dead or crushed
flowers.

page_text: In the accompanying drawing,
Figure 1 represents an enclosure in which the odour-producing material is located,―
an air pump or blower for inducing a draught, and a series of vessels through which
the perfume-laden air is caused to successively pass, the whole being shown in side
elevation.
Figure 2 represents a top plan view of the interior of an enclosure in which
there is a centre passage way, and arrangements for flower beds or pots on
each side, the air blower being shown in connection with the enclosure; and,
Figure 3 represents another form of an enclosure for containing plucked
flowers.
For the purpose of illustration, I have shewn the odour-producing material as
consisting of live growing plants or flowers in Figures 1 and 2, and of plucked
flowers in Figure 3.
The enclosure in Figure 1 is represented by A, and has a glass top and' front a.
The plants are represented by B, the blower by C, and the receiving vessel's
by D, E, F and G. The height of the liquid in the vessels is represented by a
dotted line, the air being discharged from pipes d e f and g at points below the
surface, preferably near the bottoin, and conducted away from points above the
surface of the liquid.
In Figure 2, the conservatory is represented by H, and the enclosures of the
flower beds by A', the passage way by a', and the blower and the receiving vessels
by the same letters as in Figure 1.
In Figure 3, the enclosure consists of a box or casing A2, and is provided with
trays or drawers K, which slide into the box from the outside.
In the present
instance, I have shown them as sliding into the box from its opposite sides, leaving
a passage way for the passage of the air alternately at the opposite sides of box or
casing, causing the air to pursue a zigzag course through the box. The drawers
may be filled with wet sand, and the stems of the plucked flowers inserted therein,
as represented in Figure 3, by which means they may be kept fresh for a
considerable time.
The enclosure might also be made portable, so as to be placed over and enclose
a group of flowers, wherever they may chance to be grown:
In operation, the flowers or plants having been enclosed, and the proper
connections having been made with the blower and the pipes in 'the 'receiving
vessel or vessels, the blower is set in operation, and a draught of air thereby set in
motion through the enclosure and the receiving vessel or vessels.
The air, heavily laden with the perfume from the enclosed odour-producing
material, is first caused to pass through the liquid in the receiver D, which absorbs
the whole or part of the perftime.
If a portion of the perfume remain unabsorbed, it passes into the next receiver,
and is there further acted upon by the absorbent in that receiver. The number of
receivers might be increased at pleasure, to complete the absorption of the perfume,
or one receiver only may be used. The last receiver is filled with water (distilled
water is used), for the purpose of absorbing any alcohol and perfume which may
be evaporated from the preceding vessels, and be carried over with the air, and
will produce a perfumed water. When growing plants are employed, the fresh air
supplied to the plants, and the sunlight through the glass portion of the enclosure,
will keep the plants thrifty, the necessary moisture being supplied from below, so
that the process may be continued throughout the natural life of the plant, and the
perfume will be of the most delicate nature.
It is obvious that other means, such, for example as a common air pump, might
be employed to induce a draught, either by forcing it, or by suction, by attaching it
to the other end of the air pipe, and that enclosures of various forms might be
provided to confine the perfumes of the plants.
As distinguished from the methods heretofore employed in enfleurage and
maceration, where grease is used as a vehicle, and the perfume subsequently
digested out of the grease, my present method contemplates the direct absorption

page_text: of the perfume from the perfume laden air, and thereby enables me to provide an
extract uncontaminated by the constituent odours of grease.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what 1
claim is:-
1. The method of extracting perfumes from flowers, or other odoriferous
substances, consisting in forcing the perfume-laden air surrounding the flowers or
other odoriferous substances, from the enclosed chamber containing them, into
Cologne spirits, or similar absorbent, substantially as set forth.
2. The method of extracting perfume from flowers, consisting of enclosing
growing plants, and subsequently forcing the perfume-laden air surrounding said
growing plants into an absorbent, substantially as set forth.
3. As a new article of manufacture, a perfumed alcoholic solvent free from the
characteristics of grease or fat, obtained by causing air to pass in contact with
flowers, and thence directly into the said solvent, substantially as set forth.
4. The herein-described apparatus for transferring the perfume of flowers or
other odoriferous substances into an absorbent, without the employment of grease or
fat, comprising an enclosure in which the flowers may be located; a draught-
producing device in connection with the said enclosure, and one or more vessels
containing an absorbent other than grease or fat, in communication with said
enclosure, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 6th day of Jule 1899
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.