t excepting the seed; they are, at least, never found in
that part of the seed which contains the embrio plant.

EMILY.

The smell of flowers, then, proceeds from volatile oil?

MRS. B.

Certainly; but this oil is often most abundant in the rind of fruits, as
in oranges, lemons, &c. from which it may be extracted by the slightest
pressure; it is found also in the leaves of plants, and even in the
wood.

CAROLINE.

Is it not very plentiful in the leaves of mint, and of thyme, and all
the sweet-smelling herbs?

MRS. B.

Yes, remarkably so; and in geranium leaves also, which have a much more
powerful odour than the flowers.

The perfume of sandal fans is an instance of its existence in wood. In
short, all vegetable odours or perfumes are produced by the evaporation
of particles of these volatile oils.

EMILY.

They are, I suppose, very light, and of very thin consistence, since
they are so volatile?

MRS. B.

They vary very much in this respect, some of them being as thick as
butter, whilst others are as fluid as water. In order to be prepared for
perfumes, or essences, these oils are first properly purified, and then
either distilled with spirit of wine, as in the case with lavender
water, or simply mixed with a large proportion of water, as is often
done with regard to peppermint. Frequently, also, these odoriferous
waters are prepared merely by soaking the plants in water, and
distilling. The water then comes over impregnated with the volatile oil.

CAROLINE.

Such waters are frequently used to take spots of grease out of cloth, or
silk; how do they produce that effect?

MRS. B.

By combining with the substance that forms these stains; for volatile
oils, and likewise the spirit in which they are distilled, will dissolve
wax, tallow, spermaceti, and resins; if, therefore, the spot proceeds
from any of these substances, it will remove it. Insects of every kind
have a great aversion to perfumes, so that volatile oils are employed
with success in museums for the preservation of stuffed birds and other
species of animals.

CAROLINE.

Pray does not the powerful smell of camphor proceed from a volatile oil?

MRS. B.

_Camphor_ seems to be a substance of its own kind, remarkable by many
peculiarities. But if not exactly of the same nature as volatile oil, it
is at least very analogous to it. It is obtained chiefly from the
camphor-tree, a species of laurel which grows in China, and in the
Indian