BOOKS AND NOTES ON THE SUBJECT OF PERFUMES, ETC. 169 



There is no mention of Camphor, Cloves, Nutmegs, Betel 

 Leaf, Cubebs, or Gamboge, which may show the trend of 

 commerce in Bible times. The " precious ointment " of the 

 Scriptures was a compound of Olive oil, Myrrh, Cassia, 

 Cinnamon, and Sweet Calamus, &c. It was a sacred pro- 

 duction, and could not be used for secular purposes. A precious 

 ointment is still used for the Pope's Golden Kose. In the 

 early Christian Church not only incense but the oil of 

 the lamps, and even the wax of tapers, &c, were perfumed. 



374-286 B.C. Theophrastus wrote a work on fragrant plants in 

 which he says : " Perfumes are made from Roses, White 

 Lilies, and Violets, some from stalks and some from roots." 



? 200 b.c. Apollonius of Herophila, who wrote a treatise on 

 perfumes alluded to by Pliny. " The Iris," says Apollonius, " is 

 best at Elis and at Cyzicus ; perfume from Roses is most 

 excellent at Phasalis, Naples, and at Capua ; that made from 

 Crocus is in highest perfection at Soli in Cilicia and at 

 Rhodes ; the essence of Spikenard is best at Tanius ; the 

 extract of Vine leaves at Cyprus and at Adramythum ; the 

 best perfume from Marjoram and Apples comes from Cos ; 

 Egypt bears the palm for essence of Cyprinus, and the next 

 best is the Cyprian and the Phoenician, and after them 

 comes the Sidornan. The perfume called Panatheniacum is 

 made at Athens, and those called Metopian and Mendesian 

 are prepared with the greatest skill in Egypt." 



65 b.c. Horace was very fond of flowers and perfumes. In his 

 ode celebrating the return of Augustus from Spain he bids the 

 slaves set rarest perfumes, and especially desires the tuneful 

 Neasra to make haste and knot up her scented hair. 



1250. The Doge of Venice even so far back as the thirteenth 

 century " might receive no presents or gifts from anyone, 

 except offerings of rosewater, leaves, flowers, and sweet herbs. 

 In the event of a marriage he might receive gifts of food only, 

 and he had to exact an oath from the Dogaressa and all his 

 children to observe this rule strictly." — Venice : " Story of the 

 Nations " Series, p. 156. (1894.) 



1527. Master Jerome Brunswick, " The Vertuose boke of Dis- 

 tillacyon of the waters of all manner of Herbes," folio, 

 newly translated out of Duyche into Englysshe, by the 

 printer Lawrence Andrew, London- This is a rare and 



