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Extra Essence of Roses

Take of petals of roses (fresh) 3 pounds avoirdupois; and rectified spirit (90 per cent.) 5 Imperial quarts; digest the petals (picked to pieces) in the spirit for 24 hours, then distill to dryness by the heat of a water-bath. Digest the distillate (product of distillation) on a fresh quantity of rose-petals, and re-distill, as before; and repeat the whole process of maceration and distillation a third, fourth, fifth, and sixth time, or oftener, the last time observing to conduct the distillation rapidly, and to draw over only 1 gallon, which is the of essential oil (of the respective flowers), 1 essence. Delicately and delightfully fragrant. ounce avoirdupois, and rectified spirit 90 per It improves by age. The product of each of cent. 1 pint (Imperial); dissolve as directed the above receipts is very superior; but that for "Essence of Almonds." Or, take of the last has a peculiar delicacy of flavor, (respective) flowers, 3 to 5 pounds; proof which distinguishes it from those prepared spirit, 2 gallons; digest for a few days, and from the otto. Some makers add to each then draw over, by distillation, 1 gallon of pint of the former 20 or 30 drops each oil of essence. For those flowers that are not bergamot and neroli, and 15 or 20 drops strongly fragrant, the product may be distilled essence of musk; but the product of the last a second and a third time, or even oftener, formula is scarcely improved by any addition, from fresh flowers, as noticed under "Essence unless it be a very little neroli or essence of Roses." The products obtained by distilla- d'ambrette, or both, as the case may indicate. tion are always colorless; and hence flowers The best rose leaves to use are those of the rich in color may, in general, be advantage- rosa centifolia (cabbage-rose, damask-rose), or ously so treated. The flowers should be selected when in their state of highest fragrance; rosa sempervirens (musk-rose), or mixtures of them. and should be picked to pieces, or crushed or 946. Essence of Rondeletia; Extrait bruised, as their nature may indicate. With de Rondeletia. Various formulæ are curmany, the last is facilitated by the addition of rent for this exquisite perfume, of which some clean sand or common salt. Or, proceed scarcely any produce an article approaching in the way described under "Essence of in excellence the proprietary one. The fol- Tuberose." This applies to most of those lowing is an exception: Take of oil of lavenflowers that contain little fragrant oil, and of der (Mitcham), ounce avoirdupois; oil of which the odor is extremely delicate. A cloves (finest), 5 drachms avoirdupois: oil of small quantity of some other odorous essence bergamot, 4 drachms; + drachm each of the or volatile oil is commonly added to the finest essence of ambergris and musk; rectisimple essences of flowers, at will, to enrich fied spirit (strongest), Imperial pint; or modify the fragrance, each manufacturer agitate them together until completely united. usually pursuing his own taste in the matter. Some persons add 1/2 drachm of neroli, or of In some cases, spirit is impregnated with a oil of verbena (Indian lemon-grass), with or combination of essential oils and other odorous without 10 or 12 drops of otto of roses. Very substances, so as to produce, artificially, an fine. odor resembling or approaching that of the fluid drachm; rectified spirit (warm), 1 pint; mix, closely cork the bottle, and agitate frequently until cold. A powerful, durable, and very agreeable perfume.