_To make Sweet-Jar or Pot-Pourri._—Take six pounds of bay-salt, beaten
fine, twenty-four sweet-bay leaves, torn into strips, a handful of
myrtle leaves, of the red part of clove carnations, of syringa or
orange-blossom separated from the green calyx, of violets picked from
their stalks, six handfuls of lavender blossoms, a handful of sweet
verbena leaves, of thyme, of balm, of sweet marjoram, and of rosemary.
Dry all these on a sheet spread in a sunny room. Then put them all into
a large china jar, sprinkling the pounded bay-salt thoroughly amongst
both flowers and leaves. In a short time they will become moist. Stir
the contents of the jar well every day for a month, adding a little
bay-salt occasionally. Keep the jar in the sun, closely covered with a
china lid. When the pot-pourri has been in the jar for a day or two,
add four ounces of orris root sliced, two ounces of beaten cloves, and
the rinds of three Seville oranges and of three lemons finely pared,
cut into strips, and well beaten. Cover the jar as before. Jessamine
flowers, myrtle or syringa, or orange flowers, well dried in the sun,
can be added at any time to the pot-pourri. Never adulterate pot-pourri
by scents bought at a shop.—_J. R._
_To make Eau-de-Cologne._—Mix together a pint of rectified spirits, an
ounce of orange-flower water, two drams of oil of bergamot, two drams
of oil of lemon, twenty minims of oil of rosemary, and twenty minims
of oil of neroli. Allow the mixture to stand for a couple of months,
thoroughly shaking at intervals. Filter, if necessary.
_To make Lavender Water without distillation._—Mix together a pint of
rectified spirits, four ounces of distilled water, three drams of oil
of lavender, three drams of orange-flower water, five minims each of
oil of cloves and oil of cinnamon, and four minims of otto of roses.
Allow this mixture to stand for a fortnight, then filter through
carbonate of magnesia, and bottle. Keep for three months before using.
_To make Aromatic Vinegar for Smelling Bottles._—Digest in a bottle
for four days, with frequent shaking, a mixture of a pint of acetic
acid (90 per cent.), one ounce each of dried lavender flowers, thyme,
and rosemary, and twenty grains each of powdered cloves and cinnamon.
Strain, filter through blotting-paper, and bottle.
_To make Toilet Vinegar._—Mix an ounce of pure acetic acid with a pint
of water, and digest therein, for two or three weeks, four ounces
of fresh, or two ounces of dried, fragrant flowers or leaves. Among
the best for the purpose are rose petals, lavender, elder blossom,
rosemary, and thyme.
_Scent Bags_ may be made with almost any dry fragrant leaves or
flowers, such as the scented leaves of geraniums, lavender flowers,
rose petals, and so on. These are tied up in linen bags, and placed
in cushions, or suspended in wardrobes or cupboards. A good recipe is
a pound of lavender flowers, two ounces of thyme, an ounce of ground
cloves, and two ounces of salt. A more elaborate recipe is as follows:
Grind into a coarsely powdered mixture a pound of orris root, a quarter
of a pound each of rose petals, lavender flowers, and sandalwood
shavings, two ounces of benzoin, a dram each of otto of roses and oil
of cloves, a dram of musk, and half an ounce of vanilla pods.
[Illustration: PERSIAN INCENSE BURNER.]
_To make Incense._—Coarsely powder and mix together a pound each of gum
benzoin and frankincense, a quarter of a pound each of cascarilla and
gum myrrh, and half an ounce of cinnamon.
_To make Aromatic or Fumigating Pastils._—Mix together the following
ingredients, all having been separately powdered: two pounds of
charcoal, one pound each of frankincense and gum benzoin, and half a
pound of gum storax. Add to the mixed powders, four ounces of syrup,
six ounces of tincture of benzoin, two ounces each of oil of almonds
and essence of ambergris, and one ounce of essence of musk. Make the
resultant paste into cones, adding a little warm water if required.
_To make Aromatic Pastils. Another Recipe._—Mix together 125 parts
of gum benzoin, 25 parts of balsam of tolu, 100 parts of powdered
sanderswood, and 1 part each of nitre, oil of sandalwood, cinnamon, and
cloves. Make into a paste with a solution of gum tragacanth (made by
pouring 6 parts of warm water over 1 part of gum tragacanth, letting it
stand a few days and then straining), and form into cones.
_To make Aromatic Pastils. Another Recipe._—Mix together 125 parts of
charcoal, 25 parts each of cascarilla bark and gum benzoin, 12 parts of
nitre, 10 parts of myrrh, and 5 parts each of oil of cloves and oil of
nutmeg. Make into a paste with a solution of gum tragacanth.