572 PERFUME-YIELDING PLANTS 



per Ib. It is not much used for scenting soaps, being too costly 

 for that purpose, but enters largely into the composition of 

 handkerchief perfumes. 



Frangipanni. The odour of the white, cream, or crimson 

 waxy flowers of the Temple Tree (Plumeria spp) closely 

 resembles the perfume frangipanni, and it is considered that it 

 would pay to extract the scent by distillation, or by the usual 

 method of maceration in liquid fat, etc. The Temple-tree is com- 

 mon at low elevations in Ceylon, especially near Buddhist temples, 

 and is easily propagated by cuttings. 



Geranium (Pelargonium capita turn. Geraniaceae) This plant, 

 which may easily be grown up-country, is cultivated extensively 

 in Northern Africa and Southern Europe for the sake of the 

 delightful rose-smelling oil obtained from the strongly scented 

 leaves and stems by distillation. This oil is worth about 4s. per 

 oz. In plantations 3,000 to 4,000 plants are allowed to the 

 acre; one planting lasts four years, and three cuttings of leaves 

 and shoots are obtained from the plants in one season. 



Jasmine. (Jasinitiuin spp. Oleaceae). The perfume or otto 

 obtained from Jasmine flowers by absorption on clarified fat 

 is said to be one of the most prized by perfumers, on account 

 of its sweet and delicate odour and the impossibility of imitating 

 it, and is said to be worth about 9 per fluid ounce. In France, 

 about 8,000 Jasmine plants go to the acre ; this number yield 

 about 5 cwt of blossoms, which in turn will perfume li cwt. 

 of fat valued at about 12s. per Ib. 



Lemon-grass; Verbena-oil (Andropogon citratus. Graminae). 

 The oil obtained by distillation from the leaves of Lemon-grass 

 is generally employed in the perfuming of scented soaps, also 

 in adulterating u otto of roses" and true "verbena oil." It is sold 

 in London at about 6d. per ounce. 



Patchouili. (Pogostemon Patchouli, Labiateae). A small her- 

 baceous plant, about 2 feet high, native of Sylhet, Penang, and 

 Malacca. By distillation of the leaves and young tops a volatile 

 oil is obtained, and from this " Essence-of-Patchouli " is prepared. 

 Patchouli perfume is highly popular in India as well as in Europe, 

 and is much used in the preparation of other perfumes. With 

 care, the plant will grow at medium elevations in Ceylon, though 

 probably not sufficiently well to be profitable. In England, 

 Patchouli leaves are said to be sold at 9d. to Is. 3d. per Ib., 

 and the pure oil at from 2s. 6d. to 3s. 9d. per ounce. 



