The Toilet of Flora

The Toilet of Flora
Pierre-Joseph Buc'hoz

The Toilet of Flora or, A collection of the most simple and approved methods of preparing baths, essences, pomatums, powders, perfumes, and sweet-sc

ADVERTISEMENT

The chief Intention of this Performance is to point out, and explain to the Fair Sex, the Methods by which they may preserve and add to their Charms; and by which many natural Blemishes and Imperfections may be remedied or concealed. The same Share of Grace and Attractions is not possessed by all of them; but while the Improvement of their Persons is the indispensable Duty of those who have been little favoured by Nature, it should not be neglected even by the few who have received the largest Proportion of her Gifts. The same Art which will communicate to the former the Power of pleasing, will enable the latter to extend the Empire of their Beauty. It is possible to remove, or, at least, to cover the Defects of the one Class, and to give Force and Lustre to the Perfections of the other.

The Author, however, though in general he has framed his Work for the Advantage of the Ladies, has not entirely confined it to them. The Virtues of Plants and Vegetables, beside the Service they furnish for the Toilet, have their Use in Articles of Luxury. He has thence been induced to address himself also to the Perfumer: and his Publication, he flatters himself, while it comprizes a very perfect Collection of the Methods which tend to improve Beauty, to repair the Wastes of Fatigue, and to avert the Marks of Age or Decline, includes likewise a full Account of whatever relates to domestic Oeconomy and Expence.

Uncommon Pains have been taken to improve the present Edition, which contains a System of the Cosmetic Art, infinitely superior to any that has hitherto appeared; and it has likewise uniformly rendered the various Prescriptions not only compatible with, but subservient to, the Preservation, and even the Improvement of Health; an Object of the greatest Importance in a Work of this Kind.

THE

TOILET

OF

FLORA

No. 1. An Aromatic Bath

Boil, for the space of two or three minutes, in a sufficient quantity of river-water, one or more of the following plants; viz. Laurel, Thyme, Rosemary, Wild Thyme, Sweet-Marjoram, Bastard-Marjoram, Lavender, Southernwood, Wormwood, Sage, Pennyroyal, Sweet-Basil Balm, Wild Mint, Hyssop, Clove-july-flowers, Anise, Fennel, or any other herbs that have an agreeable scent. Having strained off the liquor from the herbs, add to it a little Brandy, or camphorated Spirits of Wine.

This is an excellent bath to strengthen the limbs; it removes pains proceeding from cold, and promotes perspiration.

2. A Cosmetic Bath

Take two pounds of Barley or Bean-meal, eight pounds of Bran, and a few handfuls of Borrage Leaves. Boil these ingredients in a sufficient quantity of spring water. Nothing cleanses and softens the skin like this bath.

3. An Emollient Bath for the Feet

Boil, in water, a pound of Bran, with a few Marsh-mallow Roots, and two or three handfuls of Mallow Leaves.

4. An Aromatic Bath for the Feet

Take four handfuls of Pennyroyal, Sage, and Rosemary, three handfuls of Angelica, and four ounces of Juniper Berries; boil these ingredients in a sufficient quantity of water, and strain off the liquor for use.

5. An excellent Preservative Balsam against the Plague

Scrape fine twelve Scorzonera and Goatsbread Roots; simmer them over a gentle fire in three quarts of Lisbon or French White Wine, in a vessel closely covered, to prevent the too great evaporation of the vinous spirit. When the roots are sufficiently boiled, strain off the liquor through a linen strainer with a gentle pressure: then add to it the Juice of twelve Lemons, with Cloves, Ginger, Cardamom Seeds, and Aloes Wood, grossly powdered, of each half an ounce; and about one ounce of each of the following herbs, viz. fresh Leaves of Rue, Elder, Bramble, and Sage; boil all together over a gentle fire, till one quart is wasted away; strain the liquor off immediately through a strong linen bag, and keep it in an earthen or glass vessel close stopped. Drink every morning fasting, for nine days together, half a pint of this Balsam, by which means you will be able to resist the malignancy of the Atmosphere, though you even visit infected persons. The same end may be promoted by washing the mouth and nostrils with Vinegar; and by holding to the nose a bit of Camphire, slightly wrapped in muslin; or by frequently chewing a piece of Gum Myrrh.

6. An excellent Cosmetic for the Face

Take a pound of levigated Hartshorn, two pounds of Rice Powder, half a pound of Ceruss, Powder of dried Bones, Frankincense, Gum Mastic, and Gum Arabic, of each two ounces. Dissolve the whole in a sufficient quantity of Rose-water, and wash the face with this fluid.

7. A curious Perfume

Boil, in two quarts of Rose-water, an ounce of Storax, and two ounces of Gum Benjamin; to which add, tied up in a piece of gauze or thin muslin, six Cloves bruised, half a drachm of Labdanum, as much Calamus Aromaticus, and a little Lemon-peel. Cover the vessel up close, and keep the ingredients boiling a great while: strain off the liquor without strong pressure, and let it stand till it deposit the sediment, which keep for use in a box.

8. Perfumed Chaplets and Medals

Take Marechal Powder, and make it into a paste with Mucilage of Gum Tragacanth and Arabic, prepared with All-flower-water (the receipt for which is contained in this book.) The mould into which it is put must be rubbed with a little Essence of Jassmine, or of any other sweet-scented herb, to prevent the Paste from sticking. This Paste in colour resembles Coffee.

9. Receipt to thicken the Hair, and make it grow on a bald part

Take Roots of a Maiden Vine, Roots of Hemp, and Cores of soft Cabbages, of each two handfuls; dry and burn them; afterwards make a lye with the ashes. The head is to be washed with this lye three days successively, the part having been previously well rubbed with Honey.

10. An approved Depilatory, or a Fluid for taking off the Hair

Take Polypody of the Oak, cut into very small pieces; put them into a glass vessel, and pour on them as much Lisbon, or French White Wine, as will rise about an inch above the ingredients: digest in balneo Mariæ (or a bath of hot water) for twenty-four hours; then distil off the liquor by the heat of boiling water, till the whole has come over the helm. A linen cloth wetted with this fluid, may be applied to the part on which the hair grows, and kept on it all night; repeating the application periodically till the hair falls off.

The distilled water of the Leaves and Roots of Celandine, applied in the same manner, has the like effect.

11. A Powder to prevent Baldness

Powder your head with powdered Parsley Seed, at night, once in three or four months, and the hair will never fall off.

12. To quicken the Growth of Hair

Dip the teeth of your comb every morning in the expressed Juice of Nettles, and comb the hair the wrong way. This expedient will surprisingly quicken the growth of the hair.

Some, after having shaved the head, foment it with a decoction of Wormwood, Southernwood, Sage, Betony, Vervain, Marjoram, Myrtle, Roses, Dill, Rosemary, or Misletoe.

13. A compound Oil for the same Intention

Take half a pound of green Southernwood bruised, boil it in a pint and a half of Sweet Oil, and half a pint of Red Wine; when sufficiently boiled, remove it from the fire, and strain off the liquor through a linen bag: repeat this operation three times with fresh Southernwood. The last time add to the strained liquor two ounces of Bears-grease.

This oil quickly makes the hair shoot out.

14. A Fluid to make the Hair grow

Take the tops of Hemp as soon as the plant begins to appear above ground, and infuse them four and twenty hours in water. Dip the teeth of the comb in this fluid, and it will certainly quicken the growth of the hair.

15. A Liniment of the same Kind

Take six drachms of Labdanum, two ounces of Bears-grease, half an ounce of Honey, three drachms of powdered Southernwood, a drachm and a half of Ashes of Calamus Aromaticus Roots, three drachms of Balsam of Peru, and a little Oil of Sweet Almonds. Mix into a liniment.

16. To change the Colour of the Hair

First wash your head with spring-water, then dip your comb in Oil of Tartar, and comb yourself in the Sun: repeat this operation three times a day, and at the end of eight days at most the hair will turn black. If you are desirous of giving the hair a fine scent, moisten it with Oil of Benjamin.

17. Simple Means of producing the same Effect

The Leaves of the Wild Vine change the hairs black, and prevent their falling off. Burnt Cork; Roots of the Holm-oak, and Caper-tree; Barks of Willow, Walnut-tree and Pomegranate; Leaves of Artichoaks, the Mulberry-tree, Fig-tree, Rasberry-bush Shells of Beans; Gall and Cypress-nuts; Leaves of Myrtle; green Shells of Walnuts; Ivy-berries, Cockle, and red Beet-seeds, Poppy-flowers, Alum, and most preparations of Lead. These ingredients may be boiled in Rain-water, Wine or Vinegar, with the addition of some cephalic Plant, as Sage, Marjoram, Balm, Betony, Clove-july-flowers, Laurel, &c. &c.

18. To change the Hair or Beard black

Take Oil of Costus and Myrtle, of each an ounce and a half; mix them well in a leaden mortar; adding liquid Pitch, expressed Juice of Walnut Leaves and Laudanum, of each half an ounce; Gall-nuts, Black-lead, and Frankincense, of each a drachm; and a sufficient quantity of Mucilage of Gum Arabic made with a decoction of Gall Nuts.