CHAP. LXIII.Of Royal Water.
ThisWater has its Name from being considered as the most excellent of all scented Waters. It is compounded of the Cedrat, Nutmegs and Mace, from whence the most elegant Smell is produced; and no Water is at present thought equal to this. There are two Sorts of Royal Water, one produced by a single Distillation, and the other by a double Distillation,and thence called rectified, or double distilled Royal Water.
Take of Mace one Ounce; Nutmegs Half an Ounce; Essence of Cedrat, or Bergamot two Drams: Put these into a Glass Alembic (after bruising the Spices) with five Quarts of fine Proof Spirit, and draw off one Gallon in Balneum Mariæ.
Take of Mace one Ounce; Nutmegs Half an Ounce; bruise them, and put them into an Alembic with six Quarts of fine Proof Spirit, and draw off five Quarts with a gentle Fire. Then take the Spirit drawn off and put it into a Glass Alembic, with two Drams of the Essence of Cedrat, or Bergamot, and draw off a Gallon in Balneum Mariæ.
Either of these Recipes will produce an elegant Water; but the latter greatly exceeds the former.