ODORS AND LIFE. 195 



was there exhibited a pear-oil, diffusing a pleasant smell 

 like that of a jargonel, and employed to give an aroma to 

 bonbons. This product is nothing else than a solution of 

 amylacetic ether in alcohol. Apple-oil was exhibited be- 

 side the pear-oil, having the fragrance of the best rennets, 

 and produced by dissolving amylvaleric ether in alcohol. 

 The commonest essence was that of pineapple, which is 

 nothing else than ordinary butyric ether. There was ob- 

 served, too, an essence of cognac, or grape-oil, used to im- 

 part to poor brandies the highly-prized aroma of cognac. 

 The product which was then, and still is, the most impor- 

 tant article of manufacture, is the essence of " mirbane," 

 which very closely resembles in its odor that of bitter-al- 

 monds, and which commerce very often substitutes for the 

 latter. Essence of mirbane is nothing else than nitroben- 

 zine, which results from the action of nitric acid on ben- 

 zine. Benzine, in turn, is met with among the products of 

 distillation of tar, which also yield the substances used in 

 preparing those beautiful colors called aniline. Besides 

 the essences we have just mentioned, which are gaining an 

 increasing importance in the manufacturing arts, artificial 

 essences of quinces are also prepared, and essences of 

 strawberries, of rum, etc. All these preparations serve, it 

 must be admitted, to give an aroma to the cordials, confec- 

 tioneries, and sweetmeats, which are so largely sold now- 

 adays. In other words, the products of industry are con- 

 stantly and in a greater degree taking tlie place of those of 

 Nature. In all these cases, these instances of composition 

 of odorous principles are among the finest triumphs of or- 

 ganic chemistry. The creative power of the chemist is ever 

 widening its range. After the labors of Piria, Wertheim, 

 and Cahours, came those of Berthelot, who has imitated 

 the fatty matters of the animal economy. We are at this 

 moment in progress toward the artificial manufacture of 

 sugar. If we succeed in that, nothing more will remain 



