The correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller: 11/1/96 ¶ ¶ This day, dear Dr Dyer, I posted to you a small box, containing a Flacon with essence of Boronia megastigma a plant of most powerful and peculiar flower fragrance. ¶ I fancy, that you li...

Document information

Physical location:

RBG Kew, Miscellaneous reports 7.7, Victoria, Miscellaneous 1861-1916 (MR/412), f. 266. 96.01.11

Plant names

Acacia
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Boronia megastigma
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Rutaceae
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Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to William Thiselton-Dyer, 1896-01-11. R.W. Home, Thomas A. Darragh, A.M. Lucas, Sara Maroske, D.M. Sinkora, J.H. Voigt and Monika Wells (eds), Correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller, <https://vmcp.rbg.vic.gov.au/id//letters/1890-6/1896/96-01-11-final.odt>, accessed June 9, 2026

11/1/96

Date stamped: Royal Gardens Kew 17 Feb 96, and annotated in black ink by [?J. Hillier]: Thanks herewith JM[H] 22.2.96 26/1896, and in red ink by [?W. Hemsley]: Ackd. 22.2.96 (letter not found).

This day, dear Dr Dyer, I posted to you a small box, containing a Flacon with essence of a plant of most powerful and peculiar flower fragrance.

The specimen remains in the Kew Economic Botany Museum, cat. number 63682, Kew Inwards book number 26/1896, listed as donated by Blogg Brothers, perfume distillers, with M's role also recorded.

The sample was sent to the perfumier, Piesse & Lubin, New Bond Street.

Charles H. Piesse to J. Jackson, February 25, 1896, (f. 265) reported:

Your letter and the bottle duly came to hand this morning. The bottle was empty, but there was just enough scent on the linen cover of the cork for me to smell it. I should not like to say that there is no Boronia in it, but I am certain that the main odour is derived from some enfleurage pomade - probably Jasmin or Tuberose with some other odours ... so that the chief function of the Boronia is to appear on the label!

I do not know ; but among some materials I examined for the Melbourne Government ... was a sample of B. poligolifolia otto [i.e. attar] ... the odour partakes of Turpentine and Eucalyptus and I have reason to believe that their distilling apparatus was not clean ... so that I reported that under the circumstances the stuff was worthless as a perfume. The only way we can form a correct opinion ... is to have some of the otto.

I fancy, that you like to place this new product with others of allied . I can also as a peculiar Australian Exhibit from Mess Blogg's creditable factory an essence procured by a particular process of their own from the flowers of some of the Victorian s, if you attach value to such-like articles.

Annotated in pencil by J. Jackson alongside 'the flowers … articles': Samples of these would be acceptable if the species of are given JRJ 29/2/96.

You will be aware, that is the only one, which has the strong aromatic perfume, and that I sent it first alive to Europe (Kew) as I gave a plant for your establishment to the late Mons. Thozet, when he visited his native country nearly 30 years ago.

M had also successfully sent seeds. See J. Hooker (1865-1904), vol. 99, tab. 6046, accompanying text.

With best New-years wishes your

Ferd von Mueller.

I had just a genial letter from Mrs Bryan

Mrs Brian Hooker; letter not found.

Hooker your brother in laws studies in Germany bring now splendid returns.

In addition to his course at the Royal School of Mines, Brian Hooker had undertaken additional mining studies at Clausthal and Freiberg; he was in 1896 a mining engineer in Western Australia.