The ephemeral history of perfume : scent and sense in early modern England / Holly Dugan.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Dugan, Holly, 1975-

Contributor:

Horace Howard Furness Memorial Fund.

Horace Howard Furness Memorial Library (University of Pennsylvania)

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Smell--History--Sources.

Smell.

Perfumes--England--History.

Perfumes.

History.

England--Social life and customs--17th century.

England.

Manners and customs.

Physical Description:

xi, 259 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

Baltimore, Md. : Johns Hopkins University Press, 2011.

Summary:

Dugan (English literature, George Washington U.) looks to the history of early modern English perfume for insight on "...historical relationships among materiality, perception and representation while challenging implicit assumptions about the universality of sensory perception and the history of the human body" (from the introduction). She examines in turn, the scents frankincense, rose, sassafras, rosemary, ambergris, and jasmine, noting their manner of use, cultural and religious roles, economic properties, and what their use can tell us about the way our olfactory senses have shaped our interactions with one another and our environment. Copious chapter notes are included. Annotation ©2011 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Contents:

Chapter 1 Censing God: Frankincense, Censers, Churches 24

Chapter 2 Casting Selves: Rosewater, Casting Bottles, Court 42

Chapter 3 Discovering Sassafras: Sassafras, Noses New World Environments 70

Chapter 4 Smelling Disease: Rosemary, Pomanders, Shut-in Households 97

Chapter 5 Oiled in Ambergris: Ambergris, Gloves, London's Luxury Markets 126

Chapter 6 Bowers of Bliss: Jasmine, Potpourri Vases, Pleasure Gardens 154

Conclusion: Ephemeral Remains 182.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Local Notes:

Acquired for the Penn Libraries with assistance from the Horace Howard Furness Memorial Fund.

ISBN:

9781421402345

1421402343

OCLC:

705716914