VARIETIES. 
75 
its  perfuming  value  is  most  incredibly  overrated;  nor  can  we  forget  that 
Homberg  found  that  "  a  vessel  in  which  he  had  made  a  long  digestion  of 
the  human  feces  had  acquired  a  very  strong  and  perfect  smell  of  ambergris, 
insomuch  that  any  one  would  have  thought  that  a  great  quantity  of  essence 
of  ambergris  had  been  made  in  it.  The  perfume  (odor  /)  was  so  strong  that 
the  vessel  was  obliged  to  be  moved  out  of  the  laboratory."  (Mem.  Acad. 
Paris,  1711.) 
Nevertheless,  as  ambergris  is  extensively  used  as  a  perfume;  in  deference 
to  those  who  admire  its  odor,  we  presume  that  it  has  to  many  an  agreeable 
smell. 
Like  bodies  of  this  kind  undergoing  a  slow  decomposition  and  possessing 
little  volatility,  it,  when  mixed  with  other  very  fleeting  scents,  gives  per- 
manence to  them  on  the  handkerchief,  and  for  this  quality  the  perfumer 
esteems  it  much. 
Essence  of  Ambergris. 
Rectified  spirit  1  gallon. 
Ambergris  6  ounces. 
After  standing  together  for  three  weeks  or  a  month,  it  is  fit  to  strain  off. 
This  essence  of  ambergris  thus  made  is  not  sold  retail;  it  is  only  kept  for 
mixing  when  the  retailed  has  to  be  sweetened  up  to  the  public  nose ;  it  is 
then  called  after  the  Parisian  name 
EXTRAIT  d'AmBRE. 
Espirit  de  rose  triple  ...  J  pint. 
Extract  of  ambergris  ...  1  pint. 
Essence  of  musk  i  pint. 
Extract  of  vanilla  ...  2  ounces. 
This  perfume  has  such  a  lasting  odor,  that  a  handkerchief  being  well 
perfumed  with  it,  will  still  retain  an  odor  even  after  it  has  been  washed. 
The  fact  is,  that  both  musk  and  ambergris  contains  a  substance  which 
clings  pertinaceously  to  woven  fabrics,  and  not  being  soluble  in  weak  alka- 
line leys,  is  still  found  upon  the  material  after  passing  through  the  lavora- 
tory  ordeal. 
Powdered  ambergris  is  used  in  the  manufacture  of  cassolettes — little 
ivory  or  bone  boxes  perforated — which  are  made  to  contain  a  paste  of  strong 
smelling  substances,  to  carry  in  the  pocket  or  reticule;  also  in  the  making 
of  peau  d'espagne,  or  Spanish  skin,  used  for  perfuming  writing  paper  and 
envelopes,  and  which  will  be  described  hereafter. 
Civet.— This  substance  is  secreted  by  the  Viverra  civetta,  or  civet  cat.  It 
is  formed  in  a  large  double  glandular  receptacle  between  the  anus  and  the 
pudendum  of  the  creature.  Like  many  other  substances  of  Oriental  origin, 
it  was  by  the  enterprise  of  the  Dutch  first  brought  to  this  country. 
When  the  civet  cats  are  kept  in  a  state  of  confinement,  which  at  one  time 
was  common  in  Amsterdam,  they  are  placed  in  strong  cages,  so  constructed 
