Cause I don't have enough hobbies...

[abendgules]

...I'm now toying with making some medieval cosmetics.

The splendid Ynes de Toledo left us her un-shippable blends of 'red powder for scenting things', 'white powder' and 'powder for nightcaps', among others. We're enjoying using them, and they make me want to try out a limited amount of scenting and mixing.

However, some key ingredients are a bit tricky to source these days, namely civet, musk and ambergris (the £40,000 chunk of ambergris that washed up on a beach in the UK this month notwithstanding): all that pesky treating-animals-ethically business.

(Reading up, it turns out my 'Amber' perfume bought at Pennsic 10+ years ago may not have been amber (the resin) but amber-gris, the whale excretion...who knew?)

Does anyone who works with perfumery know good sources of (advanced artificial) versions of said ingredients? I've been looking through Ynes' notes  - her handout from her excellent class from a few years ago - and have some suppliers noted, but am interested in my friends' experiences. Euro and UK sources preferred.

Any thoughts about sourcing and using essential oils? How about damask roses?

Comments

[aryanhwy.livejournal.com]

Ooooh! I attended one of Ynes's classes (at first ID coronet, maybe?) and found it fascinating, and ever since then I've always wanted to try making some of these things, but never quite knew how to begin. I'd love to someday make some medieval dry shampoos for use at Raglan.