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Perfumed Oils by Infusion

"Dry substances, after being reduced to coarse powder (but free from dust), or sliced very small; nowers or petals, after being carefully selected, picked from the stems and other scentless portions, and pulled to pieces; and soft, unctuous, and resinous matters, as ambergris, musk, civet, resins, and balsams, after being rubbed to a paste with a little of the oil (either with or without the addition of about twice or thrice their weight of clean siliceous sand or powdered glass, to facilitate the reduction). are digested in the fixed oil, for an nour or two, in a covered vessel, at a gentle heat obtained by means of a waterbath, frequent stirring or agitation being employed all the time. The vessel is then removed from the bath, and set aside (for flowers) until the next day, or (for other substances) for 5 to 7 days, to settle, when the clear portion is carefully decanted into a clean bottle, or bottles. With ambergris, civet, musk, and vanilla, the digestion, with frequent agitation, is usually continued for at least 3 weeks; and exposure of the vessel in the sun, or in some equally warm situation, IS generally substituted for the heat of a waterbath. When flowers are employed, the free oil is allowed to drain off, and the remainder is obtained by the action of a press. The two portions being mixed, fresh flowers are added to the oil, and the whole process is repeated and this again, with fresh flowers, 5 or 6 times, or oftener, until the oil is sufficiently fragrant." (Cooley.) For the extraction of perfume from rose leaves, from scented woods, from bark, from gums, there appears to be nothing better than glycerine, and this use of it IS constantly on the increase, as the most delicate odors are perfectly preserved in it.