ON THE PERFUMERY TRADE. 187 



series, comprising bergamot, orange, lemon, and cedrate, some obtained 

 by expression, and others by distillation. The latter process yields a 

 larger quantity of oil, but of an inferior quality. Some pretty fair toilet 

 soaps, chiefly made with an olive-oil basis, are also exhibited. 



The collection of essential oils from Portugal is very meagre, yet that 

 country is admirably situated to grow ail flowers used for perfumery. It 

 is to be hoped that this branch of manufacture will be improved and ex- 

 tended, which could be easily accomplished with a little spirit of enter- 

 prise and perseveranca The soaps exhibited are made with olive-oil, and 

 are mostly of middling quality, a circumstance to be attributed to this 

 manufacture having been until very recently a government monopoly, 

 which precluded all private efforts and improvements. 



Five Russian exhibitors have sent perfumery and toilet soaps. One 

 of them shows a series of soaps and toilet preparations, said to be made 

 with the oil extracted from yolk of egg. It appears that the same house 

 manufactures albumen from white of eggs, and have a quantity of yolks 

 left, which they have thus tried to turn to account. 



Spain* — M. Robillard, the director of the botanical gardens at 

 Valencia, sends some very excellent specimens of essential oils, distilled 

 from plantations which he has created, and is constantly extending, in 

 the fertile " Huerta de Valencia." His essence of geranium (Pelargonium 

 odoratissimum) was found superior to any other in the Exhibition, having 

 a sweeter and more rosy fragrance. This oil is much used by perfumers 

 for producing, combined with other oils, the perfume of rose in soaps and 

 other articles where price is an object, its cost being about one-tenth of 

 that of otto of roses. Other specimens exhibited by M. Robillard, com- 

 prising verbena (Aloysia citriodora), artemisia, albahaca, lavender, 

 malva poma, schinas, rosemary, neroly, &c, are also very interesting, and 

 might come into general use if produced in sufficient quantities, and at 

 reasonable prices. An essential oil of lemon is sent from Malaga, but it 

 is obtained by distillation, and is of inferior quality. 



Sweden has made a good display of perfumery and scented soaps, 

 which is very creditable, considering that this manufacture is yet in its 

 infancy in that country. We would, however, recommend to the toilet- 

 soap makers to avoid in future the excess of cocoa-nut oil, a fault which 

 they share with the Germans. 



There are several very interesting collections of fragrant oils and waters 

 exhibited from Turkey ; some from the main-land and others from the 

 Archipelago. They comprise the far-famed otto of roses, which is princi- 

 pally distilled in the neighbourhood of Adiianople, rose and orange- 

 flower water, essence of geranium, orange flower (neroli), peppermint, 

 sage, sandalwood, laurel, rosemary, aloes, bergamot, and last, not least, 

 the celebrated balsam of Mecca, of which the quantity gathered is now 

 so small that it is reserved for the special use of the Sultan. Some of 

 these products are of good quality, but many appear adulterated, or im- 



