CHAP. LVII.
Of Honey Water.
This Water has its Name from the Honey in its Composition; tho’ that Ingredient is but of very little Service to the Water, if made according to the usual Method.
Recipe for making a Gallon of Honey Water.
Take of the best Honey and Coriander-seeds, of each one Pound; Cloves, one Ounce and a Half; Nutmegs and Gum Benjamin, of each an Ounce; Vanilloes Number four. The yellow Rind of three large Lemons: Bruise the Cloves, Nutmegs, Coriander-seed, and Benjamin; cut the Vanilloes in pieces, and put all into a Glass Alembic, with one Gallon of clean rectified Spirit, and after digesting forty eight Hours, draw off the Spirit in Balneum Mariæ. To a Gallon of the above Spirit, add of damask Rose Water and Orange-flower Water, of each a Pound and a Half; Musk and Ambergrise of each five Grains. Grind the Musk and Ambergrise with some of the Water in a Glass Mortar, and afterwards put all together into a digesting Vessel, shaking them well together, and let them circulate three Days and three Nights in a gentle Heat: Then let all cool; filter and keep the Water in Bottles well stopped for use.
This Water was first made by that faithful Chemist Mr. George Wilson, for King James II. It is an Antiparalitic, smooths the Skin, and gives one of the most agreeable Scents imaginable. Forty or sixty Drops put into a Pint of clean Water, are sufficient for washing the Hands and Face; and the same Proportion to Punch, or any Cordial Water, gives a very agreeable Flavour.