Document information

Physical location:

RBG Kew, Kew correspondence, Australia, Mueller, 1891-6, f. 84. M96.06.23

Plant names

Preferred Citation:

Charles Piesse to John Jackson, 1896-06-23 [M96.06.23]. 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/mentions/selected/M96-06-23-final.odt>, accessed June 4, 2026

Export Bonded Factory "I" Warehouse
St. Katherines's Dock
Telegraphic Address "Lubins-London"
Royal Laboratory of Flowers
Piesse & Lubin Perfumery Factors
2 New Bond Street
London
June 23rd 1896
1
MS letterhead includes an engraving of a musk deer, captioned 'Trade Mark — Musk Deer'.
W
John R Jackson Esq
2
MS annotation by Jackson or William Watson: 'Copy to Sir F. v. Mueller 27.6.96'; copy not found. There is a tick in red pencil above the first line of text and a vertical red line after 'Dear Sir'. The valediction has been enclosed in square brackets in red pencil.
. Royal Gardens Kew
My dear Sir,
The small sample you have sent me
3
See M to W. Thiselton-Dyer, 30 April 1896.
appears to be an alcoholic extract of an enfleurage pomade but there is not enough of it to allow of my forming a very reliable opinion of its worth. I could do better with a sample of the original pomade from which it is made. This sample may contain other material besides the odour of the
Acacia mollissima

Search for Acacia mollissima in

from which it is stated to be derived by which I mean it may be a mixed extract having a basis of that acacia. It does not seem likely to supersede the variety of Acacia now employed & which is practically wholly used in mixed extracts & never as a simple perfume, in the same way as, for example, Rose, Lavender or Neroli are used. If the perfume of this new Acacia were obtained by the Bisulphide of Carbon method - which is gradually superseding the older (enfleurage) method possibly something might be done with it; certainly however it would enable a correct opinion of its value to be formed.
I take this opportunity of sending you a sample of alcoholic extract of the odouri ferores principle of the
Acacia farnesiana

Search for Acacia farnesiana in

(that which is now used in perfumery) obtained from the flowers by the Bisulphide of Carbon method: it is quite free from the admixture of any other perfume substances. If you will allow a few drops of it to evaporate on a strip of clean blotting paper & then smell it, you will recognize the perfect odour of the fresh flowers of the Acacia. You will probably agree with me that the likelihood of displacing this article by the one I have had the pleasure of examining for you is remote.
Yours very truly
Charles H. Piesse