Milk of Roses

This is a cosmetic. Pound an ounce of almonds in a mortar very finely; then put in shavings of honey soap in a small quantity. Add enough rose-water to enable you to work the composition with the pestle into a fine cream; and in order that it may keep, add to the whole an ounce of spirits of wine, by slow degrees. Scent with otto of roses. Strain through muslin. Apply to the face with a sponge or a piece of lint.

Source: The Ladies’ Book Of Useful Information

German Lip Salve

Butter of cacao, one-half ounce; oil of almonds, one-quarter ounce; melt together with a gentle heat, and add six drops of essence of lemon.

Source: The Ladies’ Book of Useful Information

For a Cough of the Lungs, or any Cough coming of Cold, approved by many

Take a good handful of French Barley, boil it in several waters till you see the water be clear, then take a quart of the last water, and boil in it sliced Licoras, Aniseeds bruised, of each as much as you can take up with your four Fingers and your Thumb, Violet Leaves, Strawberry Leaves, five fingered Grass, Maidenhair, of each half a handful, a few Raisins in the Sun stoned; boil these together till it come to a Pint, then strain it, and take twelve or fourteen Jordan Almonds blanched and beaten, and when your water is almost cold, put in your Almonds, and stir it together, and strain it; then sweeten it with white Sugar Candy; drink this at four times, in the morning fasting, and at four of the Clock in the Afternoon a little warmed; do this nine or ten days together; if you please, you may take a third draught when you go to Bed; if you be bound in your body, put in a little Syrrup of Violets, the best way to take it, is to suck it through a straw, for that conveys it to the Lungs the better.

Source: The Queen-like Closet or Rich Cabinet, Hannah Wolley

Camphor Ice, For Chapped Hands Or Lips

Spermaceti tallow 1 1/2 ozs; oil of sweet almonds 4 teaspoons; gum camphor 3/4 oz; made fine. Set on the stove until dissolved, constantly stirring. Do not use only sufficient heat to melt them.

Whilst warm, pour into moulds if desired to sell, then paper and put up in tin foil. If for your own use, put up in a tight box. Apply to the chaps or cracks two or three times daily, especially at bed time.

Source: Dr Chase’s Recipes, or Information for Everybody, A.W. Chase

A Preventive Of Constipation

A preventive of constipation in children is to give a drink of warm water the first thing every morning. Especially in summer, when the little ones perspire freely, they should have a drink of water two or three times a day. Half a teaspoonful of almond oil given occasionally is also useful for the same purpose.

Source: Home Notes, January 1895.

Cold Cream

Cold cream is often useful for roughness of the skin. A very good recipe for making it is the following:– Take a quarter of an ounce of white wax, and shred it into a basin, with one ounce of almond oil. Place the basin by the fire until the wax is dissolved; then add very slowly one ounce of rose-water, little by little, and meanwhile beat smartly with a fork, to make the water incorporate, and continue beating till it is accomplished; then pour into jars ready for use.

Source: Home Notes, January 1895.

Cold Cream

Half a pint of rosewater; four ounces of oil of almonds; three drachms of white wax; three drachms of spermaceti.

Melt the white wax and spermaceti together with the oil of almonds. Then beat them all up, adding the rosewater slowly until it is cold. Put it in a pot, and pour some rosewater on the top.

Source: Warne’s Model Cookery and Housekeeping Book, Mary Jewry