ON THE ODOURS OF PLANTS. 295 
but it is sufficiently characteristic to form a distinct odour. It is never 
sold by the perfumer, he reserves this to form part of his recherché 
bouquets. Some wholesale druggists have, however, been selling it to 
country practitioners for them to form extemporaneous Rose-water, 
which it does to great perfection. Roses are cultivated to a large 
extent in Kugland, near Mitcham in Surrey, for perfumers’ use, to make 
Rose-water ; the odour of the English flower is not strong enough to 
use for any other purpose. ‘Though the dried rose-leaves are used for 
scent bags, they retain but little of their native fragrance. In the 
season when successive crops can be got, they are gathered as soon as 
the dew is off, and sent up to town in sacks. When they arrive they 
are immediately spread out on a cool floor, otherwise if left in a heap 
‘they will heat to such an extent in two or three hours, as to be quite 
spoiled; to preserve them for use tiiey are immediately pickled ; for this 
‘purpose the leaves are separated from the stalk, and to every bushel 
of flowers, equal to six pounds, one pound of common salt is thoroughly 
rubbed in, the whole becomes a pasty mass, and is finally stowed away 
in casks. In this way they will keep almost any length of time without 
seriously injuring their fragrance. For rose-water, which is best pre- 
pared from time to time, take 121bs. of pickled Roses, and 23 gallons 
of water, place them in a still, and draw off two gallons, this product 
will be the ‘‘ double distilled Rose-water” of the shops. 
Ruopium (Convolvulus scoparius).—A fine odour is drawn by dis- 
tillation from the wood of this plant; it is but little used in perfumery, 
and is extracted more with an idea of adulterating the otto of Rose, 
as it somewhat resembles it in odour, than for any other purpose. 
Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)—The odour is more aromatic 
than sweet, it is procured from the leaves by distillation, and consumed 
largely in combination with other, scents for perfuming soap. ‘* Rose- 
mary-water” and “ Rosemary-oil’” are a good deal used, with an idea 
that they possess the virtue of restoring hair; how far this is correct 
_we know not, but we have little faith in such nostrums. 
SANDAL,— 
‘** The Sandal tree perfumes, when riven, 
The axe that laid it low.” 
This is an old favourite with the lovers of scent; it is the wood that 
possesses the odour. Some of the finest comes from the Island of 
Timor and China, and on account of its fragrance, is often fashioned 
into lady’s toilette-boxes and jewel-cases, &c. Many persons use 
Sandal-wood shavings to make scent-bags for drawers. When dis- 
tilled the oil of Sandal is easily obtained, it is wonderfully strong and 
penetrating ; the oil of Sandal mixed with pure alcohol forms the per- 
fumers’ “ Extrait de bois de Santal.” This preparation requires a 
little Rose to sweeten it for handkerchief use; it mixes well with soap, 
and then forms what they call Sandal-wood soap, and with charcoal 
and a little nitre it forms Sandal pastilles for burning, to perfume 
apartments, which, however, are but indifferent in odour; the oil of 
Sandal is often used to adulterate otto of Rose, with which it unites 
favourably ; Sandal wood, with its derivations, is one of the most 
‘ancient perfumes. 
