EAU DE COLOGNE. This prepara tion has long possessed great celebrity, in consequence chiefly of the numerous virtues ascribed to it by its venders ; and is resorted to by many votaries of fashion as a panacea against ailments of every kind. It is however nothing more than aromatized alcohol, and as such an agreea ble companion of the toilet. Numerous fictitious receipts have been offered for preparing eau de Cologne = the following may be reckoned authentic, having been imparted by Farina himself to a friend.
Take GO gallons of silent brandy ; sage, and thyme, each 6 drachms ; balm-mint and spearmint, each 12 ounces ; calamus aromatieuA, 4 drachms ; root of angelica, 2 drachms camphor, 1 drachm ; petals of roses and violets, each 4 ounces ; flow ers of lavender, 2 ounces ; flowers of orange, 4 drachms ; wormwood, 1 ounce; nutmegs, cloves, cassia lignin, mace, each 4 drachms. Two oranges and two lemons,
cut in pieces. Allow the whole to mace crate in the spirit during 24 hours, then distil off 40 gallons by the heat of a water bath. Add to the product : Essence of lemons, of cedrat, of balm mint, of lavender, each 1 ounce 4 drachms ; neroli and essence of the seed of anthos, each 4 drachms ; essence of jasmin, 1 ounce; of bergamot, 12 ounces. Filter and preserve for use.
Cadet de Gassincourt has proposed to prepare eau de Cologne by the following recipe ; Take alcohol at 62° B., 2 quarts ; neroli, essence of eedrat, of orange, of lemon, of bergamot, of rosemary, each 24 drops ; add 2 drachms of the seeds of lesser cardamoms, distil by the heat of a water bath, a pint and a half. When pre pared as thus by simple mixture of essen ces without distillation, it is never so good.