PEEFUMES OF THE BOSE. 



101 



exists only at Grasse and Montpelier, in France, and at 

 Florence, in Italy. 



Some years since, the adulteration of attar was success- 

 fully practiced in the south of France by mixing with it 

 the essence distilled from the leaves of the Rose Gerani- 

 um {Pelargonium capitatum). This adulteration is very 

 difficult to detect, because this last essence possesses the 

 same properties as the attar ; its odor is almost the same ; 

 like that, it is of a lemon color ; it crystalizes at a lower 

 temperature ; and its density is very little greater. 



The attar, when j)ure, is, beyond comparison, the most 

 sweet and agreeable of all perfumes. Its fragrance is the 

 most delicate conceivable, and equals that of the freshly 

 expanded Rose. It is also so strong and penetrating, 

 that a single drop, or as much as will attach itself to the 

 point of a needle, is sufficient to perfume an apartment for 

 several days ; and if the small flask in which it is sold, 

 although tightly corked and sealed, is placed in a drawer, 

 it will i^erfume all the contents. 



When in a congealed or crystalized state, the attar will 

 liquefy at a slight heat ; and if the flask is merely held in 

 the hand, a few minutes will suffice to render it liquid. 

 In the East much use is made of the attar, particularly in 

 the harems. In Europe and America it is employed in 

 the manufacture of cordials, and in the preparation of 

 various kinds of perfumery. 



Rose-water, or the liquid obtained from rose-petals by 

 distillation, is very common, and is found in almost every 

 country where the arts and luxuries of life have at all 

 advanced. 



Pliny tells us that rose-water was a favorite perfume of 

 the Roman ladies, and the most luxurious used it even in 

 their baths. This, however, must have been some prepa- 

 ration difierent from that now known as rose-water, and 

 was probably a mere tincture of roses. 



The ancients could have known nothing of rose-water. 



