APPLICATION OF ORGANIC CHEMISTRY TO PERFUMERY. 
251 
much too expensive, and put an end to the idea of substituting the 
use of nitrobenzole for oil of bitter almonds. However, as you re- 
collect, by means of the well-known aniline reaction, I showed 
with the utmost certainty the presence of benzole in the common 
light oils of coal tar, which had frequently been previously suspect- 
ed ; and in 1849, C. B. Mansfield showed, by a careful investigation, 
that benzole may be procured easily, and in large quantity, from oil 
of coal tar. In his memoir, which contains many valuable details 
upon the practical applications of benzole, the possibility that the 
fragrant nitrobenzole may be obtained in larger quantities is alluded 
to. As the Exhibition shows, this remark has not been lost sight 
of in the arts. Among the articles of French perfumery, with 
the title of artificial oil of bitter almonds, and the fanciful name 
of essence of Mirbane, there were several specimens of oils, which 
on accurate examination proved to consist of more or less pure ni- 
trobenzole. I was not enabled to ascertain accurately the extent 
of this fabrication; but it appears to me by no means inconsider- 
able. Here, in London especially, tolerable quantities of this ar- 
tificial oil of bitter almonds are prepared. The very simple appa- 
ratus used is that proposed by Mr. Mansfield. It consists of a 
large glass worm, the upper end of which branches into two tubes, 
which are provided with funnels. A stream of concentrated nitric 
acid flows slowly through one of these funnels, whilst the other is 
for the benzole (which for this purpose need not be absolutely 
pure). At the point at which the tubes of the funnels are united, 
two bodies come in contact ; the chemical compound formed be- 
comes sufficiently cooled in passing through the worm, and only 
requires to be washed with water, and finally with some weak so- 
lution of carbonate of soda, to be ready for use. Although the 
nitrobenzole closely resembles oil of bitter almonds in physical 
properties, it posesses however a somewhat different odor, readily 
recognised by a practised hand. However, it answers well for 
scenting soap, and would be extensively applicable for confection- 
ary and for culinary purposes. For the latter purpose it has the 
special advantage over oil of bitter almonds, that it contains no 
prussic acid. 
Besides these, several other similar products were exhibited, but 
most of them were of too compound a nature, and in too small a 
