How To Make Eau de Luce
Preston Salts, which is the cheapest of all the ammoniacal compounds, is composed of some easily decomposable salt of ammonia and lime, such as equal parts of muriate of ammonia, or of sesqui-carbonate of ammonia, and of fresh-slaked lime.
When the bottles are filled with this compound, rammed in very hard, a drop or two of some cheap otto is poured on the top prior to corking.
For this purpose otto of French lavender, or otto of bergamot, answers very well. We need scarcely mention that the corks are dipped into melted sealing-wax, or brushed over with liquid wax, that is, red or black wax dissolved in alcohol, to which a small portion of ether is added.
The only other compound of ammonia that is sold in the perfumery trade is Eau de Luce, though properly it belongs to the druggist.
When correctly made—which is very rarely the case—it retains the remarkable odor of oil of amber, which renders it characteristic.
Eau de Luce Recipe
:
Tincture of benzoin: or, }
Tincture of balsam of Peru, } 1 oz.
Otto of lavender, 10 drops.
Oil of amber, 5 drops
Liquor ammonia, 2 oz.
If requisite, strain through cotton wool, but it must not be filtered, as it should have the appearance of a milk-white emulsion.
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