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Annabella St. Clair
08-20-2009, 12:37 PM
1663 Queen Elizabeth's Perfume:

Take eight spoonfuls of Compound Water, the weight of two pence in fine powder of sugar, and boil it on hot embers and coals softly, and half an ounce of sweet marjoram dried in the sun, the weight of two pence of powder of Benjamin. This perfume is very sweet and good for a time.

Can't figure out how to do this. Powder of Ben is Benzoin. Rest is ??? to me. Anyone have a clue on how to put this together and the amounts?
Vixynne Rose
08-20-2009, 01:46 PM
1663 Queen Elizabeth's Perfume:

Take eight spoonfuls of Compound Water, the weight of two pence in fine powder of sugar, and boil it on hot embers and coals softly, and half an ounce of sweet marjoram dried in the sun, the weight of two pence of powder of Benjamin. This perfume is very sweet and good for a time.

Can't figure out how to do this. Powder of Ben is Benzoin. Rest is ??? to me. Anyone have a clue on how to put this together and the amounts?


I'm intrigued by the phrase "compound water". Once that's deciphered, the rest should be a matter of trial and error...my google-fu has failed me thus far in searching the meaning of "compound water", unfortunately.

ETA:

I found one usage of the word "compound" on an Elizabethan recipes website. It referred to sandalwood, which was apparently pulverized and used to add a red tint to foods. Sandalwood gives a fragrant oil as well--is this too far a stretch, do you think? :thinking:
Phoenix McHeit
08-20-2009, 02:23 PM
Vix - this website? http://www.celtnet.org.uk/recipes/elizabethan.html

It looked promising, at least.
Vixynne Rose
08-20-2009, 02:31 PM
Vix - this website? http://www.celtnet.org.uk/recipes/elizabethan.html

It looked promising, at least.

Yes'm, Phee, that's the one!
AnnaFaerie
08-20-2009, 04:06 PM
Compound water. Water is a compound. Do you think they just meant water?
Vixynne Rose
08-20-2009, 05:29 PM
Compound water. Water is a compound. Do you think they just meant water?

I pondered this and I don't think they did...if only because the scientific knowledge of molecules/atoms just wasn't around in Tudor times.

Also, there were references to "compound sallet" (salad) on the recipe sites I searched, so I think compound means *something*, I'm just not sure what! ::whistle::
Annabella St. Clair
08-20-2009, 05:50 PM
A fella on facebook suggested compound water is half water and half alcohol. Not sure if that means rubbing alcohol or not. I have to go back and read the sites provided.
moiradochartaigh
08-20-2009, 05:50 PM
I'm thinking that "compound" water may just mean "purified" water. Considering the fact that sources of clean, potable water were few and far between during that time, I'm sure that perfume makers would want to be assured that there was nothing funky in the recipe that would adversely affect the finished product. The term "compound" was used to refer to medicinal concoctions as well, so "compound water" may have been the lingo for water used in compounds. Perhaps distilled water might be a good option if you're going to experiment.

Just my two cents.....
Annabella St. Clair
08-20-2009, 05:50 PM
Found recipe in the back of a Pepperridge Farm cookbook. They had it listed in a section of historical cookbooks.
Ysobelle
08-20-2009, 05:50 PM
Methinks you need a SCAdian. Someone there has GOT to know what this is!
Lis Elfwench
08-20-2009, 07:19 PM
Here's what I found. Since the definition of "compound" is something made of 2 or more ingredients, "compound water" can't be just plain water (by Elizabethan standards, anyway!). My first search turned up the knowledge that Compound Water was also known as "Palsy Water".

http://chestofbooks.com/reference/Henley-s-20th-Century-Formulas-Recipes-Processes-Vol3/Lavender-Water.html

A search for "palsy water" produced this:

http://www.scribd.com/doc/14079619/John-FrenchThe-Art-of-Distillation-1651 (page 35) Leads me to believe that compound water is water (or possibly alcohol) that has been distilled with various substances to make a fragrance. This would have probably been the base, and then you'd add other scents to make your own personal perfume.

Maybe this helps a little?
Annabella St. Clair
08-20-2009, 09:52 PM
Well the compound water turned up the word sandlewood again. Another clue.
dubheasa
08-20-2009, 11:45 PM
Another recipe, found here (http://thehorticulturalist.wordpress.com/2009/05/31/the-perfume-garden/), references using Damask water, which would also be considered a compound water. It's simply rosewater created from the Rose of Damascus. It was very popular in 16th century England, and used by many as a perfume by itself, although it was often used as a base, with other ingredients added to enhance or alter the scent.

Damask Water A compound perfume popular in England in the 16th century which was based on rosewater ('Damask' relating to the Damask Rose, or Rose of Damascus) but contained a variety of other ingredients. One early 16th century recipe for Damask Water required lavender, thyme, rosemary, bay leaves, marjoram and other materials to be distilled in a mixture of rosewater and wine, various spices being added afterwards together with the spikenard, ambergris, musk and camphor. Sometimes the Damask Water, in effect a thick oil, was dried and used in sachets as a perfumed powder. -The New Perfume Handbook by Nigel GroomIt also could reference sandalwood, as mentioned before. It really depends on the scent you would be trying to achieve: floral or woody (hehe, I said woody...:snicker:) Both were popular in the day, but I think I would expect Elizabeth to wear a floral scent as opposed to an earthy one...

As for the measurements, I found this site (http://zioth.com/roleplay/alternativeCoinage.txt), which may be confusing at first, but useful in the long run. Basically it says that 300 pennies from way back when is about equal to a modern pound. Therefore 1/150 pound would equal two pence; that's pretty close to 3 grams...

Hope this helps...
Mistress Morigianna
08-21-2009, 03:43 AM
It is past midnight but i will ask mora tomarrow- she is the herbalist & historical herb person at the shop.

Oh BTW we have this for sale and here is the info:

Name: BENZOIN

Latin: Styrax benzoin

Other Names: ben
Gum Benzoin. Benjamin. Siam Benzoin. Sumatra Benzoin.
Mistress Morigianna
08-21-2009, 09:26 PM
Mora is translating now! She is a SCAdian (LOL) and herbalist. so far I got out of her compound water is rose or other flower water used as a base.

they didn't have the alchol (rubbing type) that we use now and wine alchol whould not work the same. wine alchol would become viniger.

so stay tuned for a more formal translation.......