Strange Antique Cosmetic Recipe~ Pigeon Water~

I have no doubt that the pigeon population of England plummeted after this secret was revealed....


DANISH COSMETIC.

proffering pigeon water?

It has been often remarked of the ladies of this country, that their complexion is more fair, and their colour more delicate and lasting than any other. It is probable that for this advantage they are in some degree indebted to nature; but it is certain that they are very assiduous to assist nature by art, and there is great reason to believe that their assiduity has it's desired effect. For this purpose they make use of a beautifying wash which they call Pigeon Water ;—the method of preparing which they affect to keep secret, but it is as follows.

Take of the water of nenuphar or water-lilly, bean water, melon water, cucumber water, and the juice of lemons, of each one ounce; of  briony, wild succory, flowers de luce, borage, and bean-flowers, of each a handful; of white pigeons seven or eight, pluck them, and cut the heads and ends of the wings, then mince them very small, and put them, with the other ingredients into an alembic; add also four ounces of double refined sugar, one drachm of borax, and as much camphire; the crumb of four small white loaves new from the oven, and a pint of good white wine. Let them digest in the alembic seventeen or eighteen days, after which distill the whole and reserve the water for use.

Amelie Margrethe Wedel-Heinen, Danish
Lady-in-Waiting pre-1900

Before this water is used, they make the skin perfectly clean with the following composition. Take about the fourth part of the crumb of a rye loaf, fresh from the oven, the whites of four fresh eggs, and a pint of vinegar : beat them well together, and strain the whole through a linen scarf? Many ladies in this country [ Denmark] who are full fifty years of age, preserve by these means all the freshness and bloom of twenty-one.

Portrait of a Lady- Christtine of Denmark,
Dowager-Duchess of Milan and Lorraine, (1521
-1590)
 anonymous. image source- wiki

This cosmetic I beg leave to recommend to the ladies of Great Britain, instead of those artificial colourings which are now in vogue, and which will inevitably destroy the finest, complexion in a short time.


William Wimple.

les pigeons blancs