Hungary water

Hungary water (sometimes called "the Queen of Hungary's Water",[1] Eau de la Reine de Hongary,[2] or "spirits of rosemary"[2]) was one of the first alcohol-based perfumes in Europe, primarily made with rosemary.[2] The oldest surviving recipes call for distilling fresh rosemary and thyme[3] with brandy,[4] while later formulations contain wine,[5][6] lavender,[5][6] mint, sage,[3] marjoram,[4] costus, orange blossom and lemon.

Saint Elisabeth of Hungary is sometimes reputed to have ordered the first modern perfume in Europe, called 'Hungary water'.

Origins

The exact date of the invention of Hungary water is lost to history, though some sources say it dates to 1370[7][8] or the late 14th century.[2] It is equally unclear who in particular created it. According to legend, it was formulated at the command of the Queen Elizabeth of Hungary,[7] sometimes identified as Queen Isabella of Hungary[note 1] or in one document "Saint Elisabeth, Queen of Hungary".[note 2] Some sources say that a hermit or monk-recluse first gave it to the Queen of Hungary,[8] though most likely it was made by a court alchemist or a monk-alchemist. The water was given to the queen in order to help her headaches.[9] These legends mostly date to the early to mid-17th century, so the details may have become confused in the intervening centuries.

Namesake

The queen in question is frequently assumed to be Elisabeth of Poland (1305–1380), although the particulars of her life do not match those in the more common legends. It is even more unlikely that it could be Saint Elisabeth of Hungary (1207–1231), who is additionally too early and not a queen.[note 3] The only plausible Queen Isabella (late 13th century) likewise seems to be too early to be a strong candidate, as the invention of this water is most probably related to the Black Death epidemic that ravaged Europe between 1346 and 1350 caused by a bacterial infection.[10] This could potentially be due to the antibacterial effects found in the wine or brandy and rosemary that was used to make the water.[11][12]

Spread through Europe

According to legends, Hungary water first appeared outside of Hungary in 1370 when Charles V of France, who was famous for his love of fragrances, received some. Its use was popular across Europe for many centuries, and until Eau de Cologne appeared in the 18th century, it was the most popular fragrance and remedy applied.

French Hungary water

By the 18th century, French Hungary water from Montpellier[13] was being touted over other variations of Hungary water, because of the quality of the rosemary used in the distillation.[6] Advertisements in newspapers even warned against counterfeit versions of French Hungary water, explaining to potential buyers how to detect the difference in quality.[14]

Medicinal Use

Hungary water was used during the late 17th century as a form of medicine. It was believed to have many uses such as helping to relieve a headache, toothache, or ringing ears. It was also used to help cleanse the body by clearing out several of the vital organs of impurities. Some even believed that it helped reduce blindness and the inability to hear. It was one of the medicines at the time that could be considered a "cure all" meaning that it would help with almost every ailment a person could face.[9] The medicine was made through a distillation process that included concentrating the ingredients involved, which often included rosemary and wine.[15] Hungary water as a medicine was used for men, women, and children alike. The dosage was only 1-2 sips of the medicine or have it applied topically depending on if the ailment was internal or external[15]

Other Uses

Similar to other herb and flower-based products, Hungary water was also a valuable remedy, with recipes advising the user to wash with it[5] or drink it in order to receive the most benefit.[4] Other times, it was recommended to be added to other prepared distilled waters to use when washing ones face in order to help prevent irritation and breakouts.[15] It was even thought to help people maintain youthful appearance and beauty.[2][8]

Notes
  1. Historically, the name Isabella was a variant of Elisabeth, and in the period in question the two were sometimes interchangeable.
  2. This may be a conflation of multiple individuals.
  3. The technique of distillation only became well known in Europe between about 1150 and 1250.

References
  1. Pechey, John; Marggraf, Christiaan; Ettmüller, Michael (1697). A plain introduction to the art of physick, containing the fundamentals, and necessary preliminaries to practice. To which is added, the Materia medica contracted. And alphabetical tables of the vertues of roots, barks, ... Also a collection of choice medicines chymical and Galenical. Together with a different way of making the most celebrated compositions in the apothecaries shops . London: Henry Bonwicke. pp. 377–378. Retrieved 2018-05-26.
  2. Sullivan, Catherine (1994-03-01). "Searching for nineteenth-century Florida water bottles". Historical Archaeology. 28 (1): 78–98. doi:10.1007/BF03374182. ISSN 0440-9213. S2CID 162639733.
  3. Leslie, Eliza (1847). The lady's receipt-book: a useful companion for large or small families. Philadelphia: Carey and Hart. p. 254.
  4. Buc'hoz, Pierre-Joseph; Nicoll, William; Murray, John; Montoya y Solís, Fernando (1784). The toilet of Flora or A collection of the most simple and approved methods of preparing baths, essences, pomatums, powders, perfumes and sweet-scented waters. London: printed for J. Murray ... and W. Nicoll ... pp. 35–37. Retrieved 2018-05-26.
  5. Smith, George (1731). A compleat body of distilling: explaining the mysteries of that science, in a most easy and familiar manner: containing an exact and accurate method of making all the compound cordial-waters now in use: with a particular account of their several virtues: as also a directory consisting of all the instructions necessary for learning the distiller's art ...: in two parts. Book II. London: Printed for Henry Lintot. pp. 118–121. Retrieved 2018-05-26.
  6. Lillie, Charles.; Mackenzie, Colin, ed. (1822). The British perfumer: being a collection of choice receipts and observations made during an extensive practice of thirty years, by which any lady or gentleman may prepare their own articles of the best quality, whether of perfumery, snuffs, or colours. London, New York: J. Souter; W. Seaman. pp. 142–145. Retrieved 2018-05-26.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
  7. Voudouri, Dimitra; Tesseromatis, Christine (December 2015). "Perfumery from Myth to Antiquity" (PDF). International Journal of Medicine and Pharmacy. 3 (2): 52. doi:10.15640/ijmp.v3n2a4.
  8. Thompson, C.J.S. (1927). The Mystery and Lure of Perfume. London: John Lane the Bodley Head Limited. p. 140.
  9. Leong, Elaine (2008). "Making Medicines in the Early Modern Household". Bulletin of the History of Medicine. 82 (1): 145–168. doi:10.1353/bhm.2008.0042. ISSN 1086-3176. PMID 18344588. S2CID 13923538.
  10. "Plague Information and Facts". Science & Innovation. 2017-01-18. Retrieved 2019-04-23.
  11. July 5, Dave Mosher |; ET, 2007 04:44am. "Wine: Kills Germs on Contact". Live Science. Retrieved 2019-04-23.
  12. Bozin, Biljana; Mimica-Dukic, Neda; Samojlik, Isidora; Jovin, Emilija (2007-09-19). "Antimicrobial and antioxidant properties of rosemary and sage (Rosmarinus officinalis L. and Salvia officinalis L., Lamiaceae) essential oils". Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 55 (19): 7879–7885. doi:10.1021/jf0715323. ISSN 0021-8561. PMID 17708648.
  13. Abraham Rees (1819), "Montpelier", The Cyclopaedia, London: Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme & Brown
  14. "The Weekly journal: or, Saturday's post. With freshest advice foreign and domestick". 1724–1725: 1619. Retrieved 2018-05-26. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  15. Stobart, Anne (2014). Household medicine in seventeenth-century England. ISBN 9781474295932. OCLC 1004811934.

See also
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