alembic
A distilling vessel
ambergris
A secretion of the sperm whale
amulets
Charms worn, usually around the neck, by peasants to ward off evil spirits
anathema
A curse of excommunication
benzoin
Gum benjamin, a resin that smells like vanilla
bergamot
A scented rind of a citrus fruit
castor
Strong-smelling oil obtained from a beaver
chimera
An illusion or mirage
chou-croute
Cabbage pie (French)
civet
Musk obtained from the tropical civet cat
contumacy
Extreme stubbornness; a willful or inexplicable perversity
eleemosynary
Fund for the provision of infant orphans
extra muros
Latin for "outside the walls" (of a city, for example)
flacon
A small bottle
gruel
A thin porridge, or liquid hot cereal or mush
mountebank
A name for a quack doctor or purveyor of patent medicines
neroli
Orange-flower oil
opopopanax
Dried juice of a Turkish plant, used for perfume
pelargonium
A kind of geranium
pomade
A scented ointment for the hair
rectified spirit
Strong, purified alcohol, refined through repeated distillaton
rotomontade
Boasting chatter or vain talk
solipsism
Extreme artistic selfishness; a philosophical system asserting that only the self is real or knowable
tincture
A solution of alcohol
vetiver
Roots of an East Indian grass, which yields a strong scent
