CHAPTER LIV.

SAVONNETTES.

ALL the preceding soaps, excepting the liquid soaps, can be used for forming the savonnettes.

These wash-balls are mostly spherical. This form is given them by means of a conical glass, similar to a wineglass, the edges of which are worn and sharpened.

Fig. 33 represents a little instrument which is a most convenient substitute for the wineglass. It is Fig. 33.

a very hard wooden plug eight inches long, smoothly turned and scooped at C, so as to present a hemispherical indentation of an inch or two. The edges are very sharp. By catching the thumb in the loop A, and grasping the handle at B, it can be readily worked without the danger of breaking, and thus injuring the hand, as is the case with a wineglass. The manipulations with this circular knife are performed in the following manner :

Holding the piece of soap in the left hand, revolve it to and fro over the edges of the trimmer, until it becomes perfectly relieved of its superficial ruggedness, and assumes a smooth, spherical shape.

In this way the regular round-shaped balls, or savonnettes, are made. The squares of soap approximating to the intended size of the savonnette, into which the bars are previously divided, must be deprived of their angles and then put in a rough shape with a knife, so as to facilitate their turning upon the sharp edges of the cutter. When properly shaped and wiped off, they are put by in a suitable place to dry.

The colors of savonnettes.-The soap-balls are colored yellow by mixing in a sufficiency of alcoholic tincture of turmeric; green, with the juice of herbs, or, what is better, the green tincture; brown, with

umber; yellow, with orange powder, or a little yellow ochre; red, with vermilion, pulverized rose leaves, or carmine; blue, with a very small quantity of indigo. These shades ought to be very clear and distinct; otherwise, a handsome white ball is preferable.

Common savonnettes.-Take 6 lbs. finely minced soap, and melt it in a pint of water previously boiled with the juice of half a dozen lemons, and strain through a cloth. To the still-melted soap add 3 lbs. of starch, and a drop or two of essence of lemon; mix and knead the whole into a paste, of which form the savonnettes with the hand, to be trimmed when dry, as before directed.

Savonnettes à la vanille.-Take 12 lbs. prepared soap, 8 oz. vanilla, 4 oz. storax, 4 oz. benzoin; bruise them very finely and melt together over a waterbath with rose water, and leave to digest for some days. At the end of this time, remelt and express through a thick cloth, taking care to exhaust the mare with a pint of rose water, and press again. This odorous saponaceous water serves for kneading the soap. Mix together 4 oz. essence of vanilla, 4 oz.tinct. balsam Tolu, 2 oz. balsam Peru, 1 oz. tinct. cinnamon, 2 drms. oil of cloves, 1 oz. essence of amber and musk, and add to the soap proportionally.

Color withoz. of brown powder à la vanille, and form the savonnettes as before.

Savonnettes au neroli, or à la fleur d'oranger.Take 12 lbs. prepared soap, rub up with a little orange-flower water, adding one pound of powdered orris, and 3 oz. pulverized orange peel, to give a deep color. Perfume, while triturating, with 2 drms. essence neroli to every pound of soap, and when it has been well rubbed up and kneaded, add 4 drms. essence amber and musk.

30*

CHAPTER LV.

SOAP POWDERS.

Powder of Windsor soap.-Take of very white and dry Windsor soap, powdered and finely bolted, melt it over a water-bath with but a very little water, so that it will dry the sooner, and be less liable to be soiled in mixing. When melted, transfer to frames; and when cooled, divide it into bars; these, when dry, are to be powdered.

Powder of savon onctueuse.--After having frotted the soap, as before directed for the savon demilourd, cut into thin slices. These, when perfectly dry, are powdered and sieved. This is lighter, and lathers more freely.

Soap powder, perfumed à toute odeur.—The preceding powder, when melted, is perfumed to any odor desired for instance, to answer the above title, use to 6 lbs. of soap, 4 oz. essence of bergamot, 1 oz. essence of lemon, oz. essence of Portugal, and oz. essence of anise or fennel.