398 ODOROGPtAPHIA. 



fuming nitric acid, or a mixture of nitric and sulphuric acids, and 

 heating on a water-bath until a sample poured into water solidifies. 

 The nitro-compound is separated by pouring it into water or on to 

 ice, filtered, w^ashed and re-crystallised from alcohol. Instead of 

 butyl chloride, amyl or propyl chloride may be used in the 

 preparation of the substituted plienol ether. The result njay also 

 be obtained by acting on other phenol ethers with amylene, 

 butylene or propylene in presence of aluminium chloride. Again, 

 the butyl, propyl or amyl radicle may be introduced into meta- 

 cresol, the product nitrated, and the nitro-deriyative conyerted 

 into its ether, or the butylated, &c., meta-cresol may be first 

 etherefied and afterwards nitrated." 



The following opinion concerning " Musk substitutes " has 

 recently been expressed by an eminent firm of manufacturing 

 perfumers : — " The popularity of ' ]\Iusk Baur ' in its present 

 condition of quality is decidedly waning. Kot only are the 

 complaints of unequal strength on the increase, but the aroma 

 itself proyes to be thoroughly unsatisfactory. A yessel in which 

 we keep our stock emits when opened a well defined odour of 

 nitric acid. When used with too liberal a hand in soap-making, 

 this compound produces a most abominable result, and injures the 

 yalue of the soap considerably. After an almost interminable 

 series of experiments in our own laboratory, and basing ourselves 

 upon a prolonged obseryation of the qualities of the article, we are 

 able to say that even so small a proportion as one gram. (15J 

 grains) of ' Musk Baur ' added to 100 kilos (2 cwts.) of soap 

 produces an insupportable odour. The largest admissable 

 proportion is J gram, (or 8 grains) to 100 kilos (2 cwts.) of soap, 

 but it is even preferable to take only half that quantity, viz., J 

 gram. We plainly state our conviction that ' Musk Baur ' cannot 

 be regarded as a valuable acquisition to the perfumery industry, 

 and that on the other hand, in its present condition, it is rather 

 calculated to deteriorate the value of the products scented with it. 

 It is therefore necessary to pay serious attention either to the 

 improvement of the present product or to the manufacture of an 

 altogether new and better ' substitute,' as the present article can 

 only serve to cast discredit upon the goods to wdiich it is used. 

 The preparation of the so-called ' Tonquinol ' has already proved 

 that it is possible to manufacture a vastly better product, and, 

 looking at it from this standpoint, it is highly regrettable that this 



