CONCERNING ODOURS, 23-26 



into eight and a half gallons of oil we put thirteen 

 gallons 1 of dry and bruised iris-root, they say that much 

 loss is caused, while if one does not steep it too 

 much, only about eleven pints and a half are wasted : 

 and in the case of most perfumes the waste is less. 



However the superior 2 iris-perfume is made by 

 using the root dry and not subjecting it to fire : for 

 then its virtue asserts itself more completely than 

 when it is steeped in a liquid or subjected to fire. 

 It also comes to pass that, if the perfumes have been 

 first steeped, their virtues are, as it were, squeezed 

 out of them to a greater extent, because they take 

 in and absorb less : and so, when they are making 

 them astringent, they do not leave the spices in the 

 oil for long, but take them out, so that they should 

 not absorb an excessive amount. 



For making each perfume they put in the suit- 

 able spices. Thus to make kypros* they put in 

 cardamom 4 and aspalathosf having first steeped 

 them in sweet wine. 6 To make rose-perfume they 

 put in ginger-grass aspalathos and sweet-flag : and 

 these are steeped as in the case of kypros. So too 

 into each of the others are put the spices which 

 suit them. Into rose-perfume moreover is put a 

 quantity of salt 7 : this treatment is peculiar to that 

 perfume, and involves a great deal of waste, twenty- 

 three gallons 8 of salt being put to eight gallons and 

 a half of the perfume. 



The manufacture of kypros resembles that of 



6 T$ fvwSci here evidently means the same as r$ y\vKc7, 44, 

 where r<? otvcf T$ fvuSei occurs just above : c/. ^eAt/c^ary Jj 

 yXvKet, C.P. 6. 17. 2. 



7 To prevent decay, as Diosc. 2. 53 explains. 



8 Turn, suggests that /le'Si^oi should be p.vat> the initial M 

 having been misunderstood by a copyist. 



349 



