Year: 1871

; there have, from time immemorial, been
4 those who devoted themselves specially to
/ Che preparation of perfumes and other


articles for the toilet But it is only


within comparatively modern times that


the manufacture of perfumery, properly


so called, has assumed proportions which


give it prominent place among the in


dustries of the world. As articles of


commerce, spices and perfumes have al


ways been among the most valuable COM


modities but as manufactures, they oc-


cupied no prominent position. Nova
days, however, the extent to which this


business has been carried is something


marvellous. In Europe, especially in


France and Germany, there are several
establishments whose transactions are es-


timated by millions aud in the United


States the number of manufactures is
very great. Some of these are of consid


cradle producing capacity, and we believe


that one or two of them are so extensive


as to include giasS-houses for the manu-


facture of the bottles and other vessels


used in their trade The character of the


articles produced on this continent varies


from that of the cheapest and coarest


varieties used by Indians and the rudest
of the working population, to perfumes
that will vie with the products of Euro


pean laboratories Those who have not
devoted attention to the subject have little
idea of the scientific skill that has been
applied to the production of really excel


lent perfumes. Great skill Is shown in
the combination of Odors, so as to produce
that which will not only be pleasant, but


free from all tendency to cloy the oifactory
sense and. by the way, it Is 4 curious fact
that some of onr most pleasant AMI vaiua-
be perfumes become exceedingly offensive
when they are present in too great guam
tity These must be diluted, aud so
combined with other perfumes that only
their most pleasant features will be per-
cepublc. Evidence Of the skill that Is
required in this direction may be had by
comparing the products OF some country
apothecary with the results Of skilled per-
tuners. Although they both use the same
materials. the difference will be found TO
be very marked


The proper use of perfumes is one that
demands more thought than our people are
apt to give it, That there is great danger
OF luclt ucluL dbu>e4 experience SHOWS
conclusively The ea stern nations employ
them, in great measure for the purpose
of concealng odors that otherwise would
be offensive in other words, they use per-
fumcs as substitute for cleanliness. This
: 5 obviously an abuse of one Of the good
gifts of the Creator. Except in the case
of peculiar and abnormal conditions Of


Dr. system in which the perspiration. etc
have an offensive character. perfumes
should never be used for purpose of con-
ccalmcnt In other words, cologne should
never he used as a substitute for the bath.
But, as an exception to this general rule
comes the ease in which wa are obliged TO
use perfumes about our own persons for
the -asc OF tortilyin5 ourselves against
the presence OF those over whom We have
no control The same may be said of
apartments Perfumes ought never to be
brought into use for the purpose Of get
ting rl Of foul odor~. until all the ap-
pIiances Of cleanliness and di>intec,auts
have beea exhausted In short, although
perfumes are not only agreeable, but, as
we have previously stated Of some value
as dcs,royers of miasm, yet since we
have other aud more powerful means Of
removing the sources OF disease. the office
of perfumery is chiefly that of affording
an exquisite and delicate pleasure--Tbe
TcctU0IoyiSt