FUMIGATING ESSENCES, PASTILLES, POWDERS, ETC.

Fumigating agents are divided into liquid and dry, the first being alcoholic solutions, and perhaps most popular. They consist of extractions from resins, balsams, leaves, flowers, seeds, wood, and roots, compounded with volatile oils, alcohol, and alcoholic extracts from French flower pomades.

It should be the aim of the perfumer to compound these substances so that a harmonious blending together of all the ingredients is attained. The object of fumigating living rooms, sleeping rooms, and sick chambers is not only to make abode in these rooms more agreeable by an attempt to cover the disagreeable odors, but chiefly to render them innoxious, thus combining the useful with the agreeable.

For several years past a strong prejudice against fumigating has been developed. Such prejudice may be justified in certain cases, especially when the fumigating agents contain musk or are otherwise incorrectly composed. An addition of musk, even in very small quantities, causes nervous persons to dislike fumigating agents containing it, because it is a well-known fact that musk excites the nerves in a high degree, and hence in most cases fumigating with agents containing it does more harm than good.

The mode of fumigating has also to be taken into consideration. It is, for instance, entirely incorrect to place the fumigating agent upon very hot iron, a hot stovepipe, or glowing coals, because in evaporating upon hot iron, it leaves behind an empyreumatic, pungent odor excitatory to cough, while the actual aroma is lost and thus the object of fumigating is frustrated.

To derive the best effects from the fumigating agent it should be placed upon a moderately warm article so that it will slowly evaporate. Liquid fumigating agents may also be mixed in a porcelain vessel with distilled water. By placing the vessel upon a warm stove, evaporation proceeds at a still slower rate, because the fumigating agent can only evaporate together with the water, whereby its aroma becomes still more agreeable. The use of rose water or orange water instead of distilled water considerably enhances the success of fumigating.

The so-called atomizers may here be mentioned. They are very practicable for cold fumigating, i. e., for the distribution of pine odor, Cologne water, etc. On account of their content of musk the atomization of Extraits d'Odeurs in the presence of nervous people cannot be recommended.

The dry fumigating agents, such as powders, pastilles, paper, and lacquer, are less popular than the fluid, it being necessary for the purpose of fumigating to place them upon hot articles, heat them, or burn them. These manipulations develop more or less smoke, which frequently exerts a disagreeable effect upon the respiratory organs. The most injurious of these methods of hot fumigation is that by means of hot coals, whereby the aroma of the fumigating agent is largely destroyed, and the very injurious gas emanating from the coals is inhaled. A heated piece of sheet-iron is, however, very suitable for fumigation by means of powder or lacquer. Scatter the powder upon it or coat it with the lacquer.

Several approved receipts for liquid and dry fumigating agents are here given.

Fumigating Essences and Vinegars. Great care should be exercised in making the following receipts for liquid fumigating agents. After mixing, shake thoroughly, and let the product stand quietly for at least several weeks, the aroma of all alcoholic perfumes being improved by storing for some time. It need scarcely be said that alcohol of the finest quality is to be used, since, if it contains fusel oil, the attainment of a fine product is absolutely impossible. To decrease the cost of manufacture, it might be permissible to increase the proportion of alcohol, but an inferior quality of it should, under no conditions, be employed.

Rose-flower fumigating essence.—Alcohol, extract No. 1, from French-rose pomade and benzoin tincture each 1 quart, musk-root tincture No. 1, 8¾ ozs., Turkish rose oil and clove oil each 2¾ drachms, French rose-geranium oil 5½ drachms. Dissolve the rose oil in the other volatile oils.

Flower fumigating essence, hÉliotrope.—Alcohol and extract No. 1 from French hÉliotrope pomade each 1 quart, vanilla tincture No. 1 and orris-root tincture each 1 pint, tinctures of benzoin and tolu balsam each ½ pint, musk-root tincture No. 1, 7 ozs., cumarin tincture 5¼ ozs., Portugal oil 1 oz., French rose-geranium oil 11¼ drachms, clove oil 5½ drachms, best lavender oil 11¼ drachms.

Violet flower fumigating essence.—Alcohol 1 quart, extracts No. 1 from French-violet pomade and cassie pomade each 1 pint, orris-root tincture No. 1, 1 quart, benzoin tincture 1 pint, storax tincture ¼ pint, abelmosk tincture No. 1, 4¼ ozs., ambergris tincture 11¼ drachms, orris-root oil 2¾ drachms, bergamot oil 11¼ drachms, best lavender oil 5½ drachms, myrrh oil 1½ drachms, basil oil 2¾ drachms.

Oriental-flower fumigating essence.—Alcohol 1 quart, extract from French-rose pomade 17½ ozs., extracts from French-jasmine pomade, jonquille pomade, hÉliotrope pomade and cassie pomades each 7 ozs., vanilla tincture 7 ozs., tinctures of orris root, tonka beans, and musk root each 3½ ozs., benzoin tincture 8½ ozs., tolu-balsam tincture 4¼ ozs., storax tincture 5¼ ozs., olibanum tincture 3½ ozs., ambergris tincture and bergamot oil each 1¾ ozs., Ceylon cinnamon oil 5½ drachms, best lavender oil 11 ozs., Turkish rose oil and clove oil each 5½ drachms, neroli oil 2¼ drachms, Peru balsam 3½ ozs.

Pine odor (for atomizing) No. 1.—Alcohol 2 quarts, pine oil (from Pinus picea) 7 ozs., bergamot oil 5½ drachms.

Pine odor (for atomizing) No. 2.—Alcohol 2 quarts, dwarf-pine oil (from Pinus pumilio) 5¼ ozs., oil of lemons 5½ drachms.

Juniper odor.—Alcohol 2 quarts, extra fine juniper berry oil 3½ ozs., best lavender oil 5½ drachms, juniper tincture 8¾ ozs.

Pine odor or juniper odor may also be mixed in a vessel with water, and thus used for fumigating.

Fumigating balsam.—Alcohol 3 quarts, orris-root tincture 1 quart, tinctures of benzoin, tolu balsam, and storax each 17½ ozs., olibanum tincture 8¾ ozs., tinctures of abelmosk and musk-root each 3½ ozs., vanilla tincture 1¾ ozs., Peru balsam 4¼ ozs., bergamot oil 1¾ ozs., lemon oil 14 drachms, African rose geranium oil 11¼ drachms, clove oil and cassia oil each 14 drachms, petit-grain oil 11¼ drachms, fine lavender oil 1¾ ozs.

Fumigating water.—Alcohol 10 quarts, orris-root tincture No. 2, tinctures of storax, benzoin, and tolu balsam each 1 quart, abelmosk tincture No. 2, 7 ozs., olibanum tincture 8¾ ozs., Peru balsam and lavender oil each 3½ ozs., cassia oil and bergamot oil each 1 oz., thyme oil ½ oz., clove oil and palmarosa oil each 1 oz.

Fumigating vinegar.—Alcohol 2 quarts, orris-root tincture 1 quart, benzoin tincture 1 pint, tinctures of tolu balsam and storax each ½ pint, musk-root tincture 4¼ ozs., tinctures of vitivert and vanilla each 3½ ozs., Peru balsam 1¾ ozs., lavender oil and clove oil each 8¼ drachms, Ceylon cinnamon oil and African rose-geranium oil each 5½ drachms, acetic acid 4¼ ozs.

Fumigating Powders. The lavender flowers, marigold flowers (Calendula officinalis), rose leaves, etc., used in the preparation of fumigating powders are not pulverized, but so far comminuted with a suitable instrument as to form a distinctly colored mixture. To dissolve the volatile oils, they are thoroughly mixed with the alcoholic extracts mentioned in the receipts. The perfume thus obtained is finally incorporated with the powders by rubbing together with the hands. To prevent loss of perfume, it is mixed with the powders in a porcelain or enamelled vessel.

Ordinary fumigating powder.—Lavender flowers, marigold flowers, corn flowers, rose leaves, rasped orris root each 2 lbs., cloves and cinnamon each 3½ ozs., rasped sanders wood 17½ ozs., rasped cedar wood 8¾ ozs., fumigating balsam 17½ ozs., bergamot oil and African rose-geranium oil each 1¾ ozs., lavender oil 11¼ drachms.

Besides the above-mentioned dry constituents, the residues from odoriferous substances, such as vanilla, orris root, vitivert root, juniper berries, etc., employed in the preparation of tinctures may be used for ordinary fumigating powders.

Rose fumigating powder.—Rose leaves and rose wood each 2 lbs., lavender flowers and sanders wood each 1 lb., corn flowers ½ lb., tinctures of musk root and abelmosk each 1¾ ozs., African rose-geranium oil 1 oz., Turkish rose oil 2¾ drachms, bergamot oil 8¼ drachms, clove oil 2¾ drachms, nutmeg oil 1½ drachms, extract from French rose pomade 3½ ozs.

Violet fumigating powder.—Rasped orris root 4 lbs., lavender flowers and rasped sanders wood each 1 lb., orris-root tincture, abelmosk tincture, and bergamot oil each 1¾ ozs., orris-root oil, basil oil, and Ceylon-cinnamon oil each 2¾ drachms, extract from French cassie pomade 1¾ ozs.

Orange fumigating powder.—Orange peels 4 lbs., orange flowers and marigold flowers each 1 lb., musk-root tincture and Portugal oil each 1¾ ozs., petit-grain oil 5½ drachms, bergamot oil 11 drachms, extract from French orange flower pomade 3½ ozs.

New-mown hay fumigating powder.—Lavender flowers 2 lbs., rose-leaves, rasped sanders wood, and rasped orris root each 1 lb., powdered benzoin, Roman camomile, curled mint and balm each ½ lb., exhausted tonka beans 1 lb., patchouli leaves and bergamot oil each 11¼ drachms, African rose-geranium oil 8¼ drachms, tonka-bean extract and abelmosk tincture each 1¾ ozs., extract from French rÉsÉda pomade 3½ ozs.

Fumigating Paper. Bring into a capacious shallow dish a quantity of fumigating balsam and repeatedly draw sheets of card-board through it, allowing the sheets to thoroughly drain off and dry after each drawing through. After repeating the operation about four times, the sheets will be sufficiently perfumed and are then coated by means of a fine brush with a solution of gum-arabic in rose water. This gives to the sheets a dull lustre, while the thin layer of gum-arabic also prevents the volatilization of the aroma. The sheets thus perfumed are cut up into pieces the size of a playing card, and six to twelve such pieces put up in an envelope. For use the paper is not ignited, but only heated. With one such piece a room can be several times perfumed. It may be remarked that before perfuming, the name of the firm, directions for use, etc., are generally printed upon the card-board.

Fumigating Pastilles. Some perfumers make more or less a specialty of the manufacture of fumigating pastilles. They are generally of a red or black color, different perfumes, names and qualities.

To prepare them, the finely pulverized substances are passed through a sieve and mixed in a capacious dish with the volatile oils, tinctures, etc. The mixture of powder and perfume is then made into a mass with a mucilage of gum tragacanth, which is thoroughly kneaded to make it homogeneous.

The saltpetre given in the receipts is dissolved by itself in distilled water and last of all added to the mass. Its object is to keep the pastilles burning after ignition.

As regards the mucilage of gum-tragacanth, it may be said that it readily spoils, especially in summer. When it begins to get watery it is already useless and soon acquires a bad odor; by decomposition it loses its cementing power. Hence only a sufficient quantity for immediate use should be made at one time.

The moulding of the pastilles is very simple. A number of tin cones into which the mass is pressed are used for the purpose. After standing for a short time the pastilles are taken from the moulds and allowed to dry.

Ordinary red fumigating pastilles.—Pulverized sanders wood and pulverized Sumatra benzoin each 2 lbs., finely pulverized sandarac and olibanum each 1 lb., saltpetre 4¼ ozs. dissolved in distilled water; clove oil 5½ drachms, palmarosa oil 11 drachms, lavender oil 14 drachms. Mucilage of gum-tragacanth as much as required.

Ordinary black fumigating pastilles.—Charcoal 2 lbs., finely pulverized Sumatra benzoin 2 lbs., finely pulverized olibanum 1 lb., saltpetre 4¼ ozs., dissolved in distilled water; lavender oil, cassia oil, and citronella oil each 11¼ drachms. Mucilage of gum-tragacanth as much as required.

Musk fumigating pastilles.—Pulverized genuine linden charcoal 2 lbs., pulverized musk root and orris root each 1 lb., pulverized sanders wood, Siam benzoin, and abelmosk each ½ lb., saltpetre 4¼ ozs., dissolved in distilled water; Tonkin musk 1½ drachms, triturated in distilled water; African-rose geranium oil, Portugal and cedar oil each 5½ drachms. Mucilage of gum-tragacanth as much as required.

Rose fumigating pastilles.—Pulverized sanders wood 2 lbs., powdered sandarac and Siam benzoin each 1 lb., carmine, dissolved in rose water, 1½ drachms; saltpetre 3½ ozs., bergamot oil 5½ drachms, clove oil, Turkish rose oil, and French rose-geranium oil each 2.75 drachms. Gum-tragacanth dissolved in rose water as much as required.

Violet fumigating pastilles.—Powdered orris root 2 lbs., pulverized sanders wood 1 lb., pulverized Siam benzoin and opopanax each ½ lb., saltpetre 3½ ozs., dissolved in distilled water; tolu-balsam tincture 3½ ozs., orris-root oil and bergamot oil each 5½ drachms, myrrh oil 2¾ drachms. Mucilage of gum-tragacanth as much as required.

Millefleurs fumigating pastilles.—Pulverized linden charcoal 2 lbs., pulverized sanders wood, Siam benzoin, and orris root each 1 lb., pulverized olibanum ½ lb.; saltpetre 4¼ ozs., dissolved in distilled water; bergamot oil and African rose-geranium oil each 14 drachms, Ceylon cinnamon oil, Paraguay petit-grain oil, and juniper-berry oil each 5½ drachms, Peru balsam 1¾ ozs., civet tincture 5½ drachms, musk-root tincture 3½ ozs. Mucilage of gum-tragacanth as much as required.

Fumigating lacquer.—Fumigating lacquer consists chiefly of resins, to which sufficient liquid storax is added to render the mass plastic, so that sticks of any desired length and thickness can be formed therefrom.

The resins and licorice mentioned in the receipt given below are gradually and very carefully melted in an iron pan over a gas or petroleum flame. To prevent the resins from scorching, the bottom of the pan must constantly be kept free with a small iron spatula. When the mass is perfectly fluid the Frankfort black is added, and the whole thoroughly worked until no more lumps of Frankfort black are present. The pan is then taken from the fire, and, after allowing the mass to cool somewhat, it is perfumed with the thoroughly mixed perfume.

A lithographic stone, not too small, is used for giving the fumigating lacquer a round form. The stone is rubbed with a rag moistened with a very small quantity of olive oil. A small portion of the still very warm mass is then poured upon the stone and rolled with the hands, which should also be moistened with a little olive oil, into sticks of desired thickness. The sticks are cut into the desired lengths while the lacquer is still warm, and the operation is thus continued until the entire mass is worked up. The mass in the pan must, of course, be constantly kept liquid.

Siam benzoin, olibanum, and myrrh each 8¾ ozs., storax as free from water as possible 3½ ozs., licorice 17½ ozs., Peru balsam 3½ ozs., Frankfort black 5¼ ozs., bergamot oil 14 drachms, African rose-geranium oil, cassia oil, juniper-berry oil, and eucalyptus oil each 11¼ drachms.