Unguis odoratus

Unguis odoratus (also called ’blattes de Byzance’ and ‘sweet hoof’) is a nail-like sweet marine shell which was a medicine "famous among the ancients, and used in considerable Quantity".[1]

Unguis odoratus is a fragrant material consisting of the opercula of certain marine snails.[2] Ancient texts refer to Unguis odoratus as the shell or scale of snails from the Red Sea that emit a pleasant smell when burned.[3]

With its marine origins ‘sweet hoof’ is intrinsically linked to the ocean and to trade, and it has also long been of importance from the Mediterranean to China and Japan. It is probably the most ancient animal derived aromatic to have an extensive global use, being mentioned in ancient Babylonian incense recipes.[2]

Source
  1. Hill, John. 1751. A history of the materia medica. Containing descriptions of all the substances used in medicine ; their Origin, their Characters when in Perfection, the Signs of their Decay, their Chymical Analysis, and an Account of their Virtues, and of the several Preparations from them now used in the Shops. By John Hill, M.D. Member of the Royal Academy of Sciences at Bourdeaux. London: Printed for T. Longman, C. Hitch and L. Hawes, in Pater-Noster Row. P.846.
  2. McHUGH, JAMES. 2013. "Blattes de Byzance "in India: Mollusk Opercula and the History of Perfumery". Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society. 23 (1): 53-67.
  3. Staff, Amos. 2018. "Modern Science Tackles A Biblical Secret — The Mystery Ingredient In Holy Incense". Amos. Accessed February 22 2019.
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