From Ferdinand von Mueller to the Australasian   [Dec 1869]

Mr. Watts, the gentleman who exhibited perfumes at the Intercolonial Exhibition in great variety from native­ flowers, would give full practical Information, on this subject. The distillation may be effected with water, spirits, ether. Besides, in some instances the use of fats and fixed oils with the plants to be distilled aids in the isolation of the aroma; while, again, addition of various chemicals vastly changes, and frequently alone calls forth many exquisite scents. Much may be learnt on this subject from Mr. Rimmell's 'Book of Perfumes,' London, 1864.¹ Special information on the most advantageous processes of obtaining the essential oils by distallation might be obtained from Mr. Bosisto of Richmond, a gentleman who has given great practical attention to this subject. Some volatile oils are obtained by means of a powerful press. Various delicate odours of plants may be concentrated by repeatedly immersing the flowers, &c., in purified lard, liquefied by very gentle heat; or should the odour be very susceptible of suffering from even slight heat, as in the case of the mignonette and jasmine, then lard spread thinly over glass plates is employed to absorb the scent without heat at all, the flowers being placed in cases over which the glass plates fit. The frames employed in South France for this purpose are called "chassis," the process called "enflourage." Some odours, apt to suffer through distallation, can be extracted through alcohol, when, however, a coloured tincture will be formed, and again the "enflourage" fats can be macerated with alcohol, to withdraw from them the delicate perfumes. Several kinds of scent of our native plants may be used for perfume soaps. The work of Dr. Campbell Morfit, of New York, on perfumes, should be further consulted.²