This section is from the book "The New Cyclopaedia of Domestic Economy, and Practical Housekeeper", by Elizabeth Fries Ellet. Also available from Amazon: The New Cyclopaedia of Domestic Economy, and Practical Housekeeper.
Take four ounces white soap, four ounces white honey, one ounce benzoin, half an ounce storax; mix the whole together in a marble mortar, and when well incorporated, melt the paste over a water-bath, strain, pour into frames, and divide into small tablets.
Take two ounces blanched bitter almonds, ten drachms tincture benzoin, a pound of white soap, and a piece of camphor, size of a filbert; powder the almonds and camphor in a separate mortar, and, when they are completely mixed, add the benzoin. If there should be too much odor of benzoin and camphor, weaken the perfume by remelt-ing the soap.
The preparation sold under this title is a potash soft soap of lard. It has a beautiful pearly appearance, and has met with extensive demand as a shaving soap. It is made thus:- Clarified lard, seven pounds; potash of lye (containing twenty-six per cent. of caustic potash), three and three-quarter pounds; rectified spirit.
three ounces; otto of almonds, two drachms.
Manipulation:- Melt the lard in a porcelain vessel by a salt-water bath; then run in the lye, very slowly, agitating the whole time; when about half the lye is in, the mixture begins to curdle; it will, however, become so firm that it cannot be stirred. The creme is then finished, but is not pearly; it will, however, assume that appearance by long trituration in a mortar, gradually adding the alcohol, in which has been dissolved the perfume.
Take of perfectly dry, pulverulent white soap, two pounds; alcohol, three quarts; heat gently together over a water-bath, and when the solution is complete, perfume, and turn out into forms.
When cooled, divide it into cakes, one-third thicker than their designed size, so as to allow for contraction by evaporation.
Curd soap, previously colored light brown, seven pounds; civet, a quarter of an ounce; otto of neroli, half an ounce; otto of santal, an ounce and a half; otto of rose, a quarter of an ounce; otto of vitivert, half an ounce.
Almond oil, one pound; rose-water, one pound; white wax, one ounce; spermaceti, one ounce; otto of roses, half a drachm. Heat the wax and sperm in a water-bath; add the otto last.
Cold Cream of Almonds is prepared precisely as the above; but in place of otto of roses otto of almonds is used.
Huile violette, one pound; rose-water, one pound; wax and spermaceti, each one ounce; otto of almonds, five drops.
Violet Cold Cream. Imitation:- Almond oil, three-quarters of a pound; huile cassie, a quarter of a pound; rose-water, one pound; sperm and wax, one ounce; otto of almonds, a quarter of a drachm.
This is an elegant and economical preparation, generally admired.
Almond oil, one pound; rose water, one pound; wax and spermaceti, one ounce; camphor, two ounces; otto of rosemary, one drachm.
Melt over a water-bath one ounce white wax and two ounces spermaceti; withdraw from the fire, and then add eight ounces oil of sweet almonds, eight ounces oil of white poppy, and continue beating together without interval until the mixture begins to get white, then put in half an ounce of Mecca balsam and a gill of rose-water, and prolong the rubbing until the mixture will take up no more of rose water, and detaches itself in large flakes or lumps.
In filling the pots, take care to cover the contents with a little rose-water. This is among the best preparations for softening the skin and preserving its freshness.
Take oil of sweet almonds, four ounces; washed lard, three ounces, rose-water, three ounces. This pomade is extremely mild and refreshing.
Mix together equal parts of purified lard, fresh butter, and honey, and add a half portion of Mecca balsam, and essence of roses.
Purified suet, one pound; white wax, half a pound; otto of almonds, one drachm; otto of cloves, quarter of a drachm.
Purified suet, one pound; white wax, half a pound; camphor, quarter of a pound; otto of French lavender or rosemary, half an ounce.
Camphor Paste - Sweet almond oil, half a pound; purified lard, quarter of a pound; wax, spermaceti and camphor, each, one ounce.
To four ounces sweet almonds, powdered finely in a marble mortar, add the yolks of three fresh eggs, mix well, thin out with eight ounces of milk, and boil until it assumes the consistence of paste, stirring constantly during the ebullition. Perfume with one drachm essence of vanilla.
Butter, four pounds; oil of sweet almonds, four pounds; common white soap, six pounds; decoction of marshmallow, eight pounds; alcohol, one pint.
Melt and heat together, in a stoneware vessel, over a water-bath, stirring well all the time; and when the whole is thoroughly incorporated, pour out to cool. Perfume according to taste. A quantity of the size of a filbert, well rubbed on, suffices for washing the hands.
Take half an ounce of spermaceti, half an ounce of white wax, scrape them into an earthen vessel or pipkin (an earthen jam-pot will do,) add six drachms of pounded camphor, and pour on the whole four table-spoonfuls of best olive oil; let it stand before the fire till it dissolves, stirring it well when liquid. Before you wash your hands, take a small piece of the cerate, and rub it into your hands, then wash them as usual. Putting the cerate on before going to bed is very good. The ingredients cost two shillings, and this quantity will last for three winters. The vessel should be covered, to prevent evaporation.
 
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