Re: Asafetida / Tincturing

[Guest guest]

At 06:54 PM 12/11/2004, you wrote:

>I noticed Asafetida listed as an associated oil to Galbanum in

>the book " Aromatherapy A Complete Guide to the

>Healing Art " .

What do you mean " associated " with Galbanum? They are very, very different.

They're both roots, and in the same family, but as different as tomatoes

are to peppers. They're both Ferula spp, no?

>I am wondering if this oil could be used as an animal note?

>In the book it's referred to as " stinky " . Anyone tried it???

Never used the oil, but the powder, which I love, smells like well-rotted

onions and garlic. It's nickname is " Devil's Dung " , or that's what

asafoetida means, literally.

>It's a popular culinary herb in Indian dishes, so it may work

>well with some of the Indian oils. If the oil is hard to get I'm

>sure we could infuse.

Diluted down, I'm sure it has a role in providing a tenacious, deep,

complex funky note.

>By the way, due to the expense of Orris Root, I am considering

>tincturing the powder. Anyone tried this? I've never tinctured a powder

>before.

I've never used orris root, but I do have some powder tincturing. Been

tincturing since 2/1/04. Two oz. powder in 12 oz alcohol. Just sniffed it.

Not much scent. Dabbed a little on my arm. Smells like.. nice dirt. Isn't

orris root supposed to have a slight violet note? Guess I didn't use " aged

roots " , since the herbal supply place I got the powder from specializes in

fresh materials (freshly dried, that is.) Still, I can see a use for it in

perfumery, nice dirt that it is.

Anya

http://anyamccoy.com

" Nature and Nature's law lay hid in night;

God said " Let Tesla Be " and all was light. "

[Guest guest]

>> I noticed Asafetida listed as an associated oil to Galbanum in

>> the book " Aromatherapy A Complete Guide to the

>> Healing Art " .

>

> What do you mean " associated " with Galbanum?

I was quoting exactly what the book says. On page 55 it has a

profile on Galbanum (Ferula galbaniflua). The profile continues

on page 56 and lists " Associated Oils " . One of which is

Asafetida (F. asafoetida)

One of the other associated oils listed is Musk root (F.sumbal

and F.gummose)

Perhaps a good musk alternative???

> Never used the oil, but the powder, which I love, smells like

> well-rotted

> onions and garlic. It's nickname is " Devil's Dung " , or that's what

> asafoetida means, literally.

Hmm, I wonder if the oil smells different?

> Diluted down, I'm sure it has a role in providing a tenacious, deep,

> complex funky note.

Similar to Cumin probably.

> I've never used orris root,

I have a tiny bit of Orris Root absolute. It smells SO LOVELY!

A friend used it in a glorious perfume.

> but I do have some powder tincturing. Been

> tincturing since 2/1/04. Two oz. powder in 12 oz alcohol. Just sniffed

> it.

> Not much scent.

Anya, what kind of alcohol do you use for tincturing? Have you found

any differences between the alcohols?

> Dabbed a little on my arm. Smells like.. nice dirt. Isn't

> orris root supposed to have a slight violet note?

LOL!

The absolute definitely has a violet note. If I stretch my nose

imagination a bit I'd say that yes, there is a nice dirt quality,

but very faint. Wonder what it would be like to tincture the

whole root as opposed to the powder?

-R-

Roxana Villa

Visual and Aromatic Artist

http://www.roxanavilla.com

NEW PAINTINGS at

http://web.showcase.com/workinshowcase.asp?person=47989

[Guest guest]

At 03:54 AM 12/12/2004, you wrote:

> >> I noticed Asafetida listed as an associated oil to Galbanum in

> >> the book " Aromatherapy A Complete Guide to the

> >> Healing Art " .

> >

> > What do you mean " associated " with Galbanum?

>

>I was quoting exactly what the book says. On page 55 it has a

>profile on Galbanum (Ferula galbaniflua). The profile continues

>on page 56 and lists " Associated Oils " . One of which is

>Asafetida (F. asafoetida)

OK. The phrase was awkward, and I knew you were quoting it, so I had to

ask. Most writers (or editors) would know to phrase it " related to " . Just

the botanist in me coming out :-)

>One of the other associated oils listed is Musk root (F.sumbal

>and F.gummose)

>

>Perhaps a good musk alternative???

Many years ago, from the long-lameneted Magic Dragon oil sellers in West

LA, I got some " vegetable musk " oil. They traveled to India to get their

oils, and Im sure it was F. sumbal. Great stuff. Black, thick, wonderful

scent. Not really musk-like, to my nose, but deep, tenacious scent that

would probably work as a fixative. Not being a perfumer then, I just dabbed

it on for the scent.

> > Never used the oil, but the powder, which I love, smells like

> > well-rotted

> > onions and garlic. It's nickname is " Devil's Dung " , or that's what

> > asafoetida means, literally.

>

>Hmm, I wonder if the oil smells different?

I don't see how it could! I'm sure it's produced for he food industry,

where it's flavor would be used.

> > Diluted down, I'm sure it has a role in providing a tenacious, deep,

> > complex funky note.

>

>Similar to Cumin probably.

Well, similar in the funk!

> > I've never used orris root,

>

>I have a tiny bit of Orris Root absolute. It smells SO LOVELY!

>A friend used it in a glorious perfume.

>

> > but I do have some powder tincturing. Been

> > tincturing since 2/1/04. Two oz. powder in 12 oz alcohol. Just sniffed

> > it. Not much scent.

>

>Anya, what kind of alcohol do you use for tincturing? Have you found

>any differences between the alcohols?

Regular ol' 190 proof grain. Undenatured. I don't mess around much with

different alcohols, since they're so expensive.

> > Dabbed a little on my arm. Smells like.. nice dirt. Isn't

> > orris root supposed to have a slight violet note?

>

>LOL!

>The absolute definitely has a violet note. If I stretch my nose

>imagination a bit I'd say that yes, there is a nice dirt quality,

>but very faint. Wonder what it would be like to tincture the

>whole root as opposed to the powder?

The root is very, very hard. Like a rock. I don't know how you'd get

anything out of it. Perhaps age the powder, then tincture?

Anya

http://anyamccoy.com

" Nature and Nature's law lay hid in night;

God said " Let Tesla Be " and all was light. "

[Guest guest]

I have an overnight case which still stinks of asafoetida powder which

I had dutifully scraped into a jar, and then wrapped the jar in some

layers of plastic, and then bagged. This is from 15 yrs ago give or take.

Got it as a spell ingredient eons ago, and when the fellow at the herb

shop said, " Please tell me you don't want a full ounce?? " I knew I was

in trouble. I was storing all my herbs in that case at the time, so

go figure, it tainted everything it touched, being an overly friendly

sort of stench

Anya, how you are able to add a full T. of this to your chicken dish

is beyond me (*bowing deeply*). In my one foray into cooking with

this, I added too large a pinch to the oil I was throwing the cloves

and cinnamon into, and the whole dish was tainted rather than enhanced.

And as to tincturing, I think I'd tincture a hunk of gorgonzola before

I tinctured this, ha.

sara

[Guest guest]

> By the way, due to the expense of Orris Root, I am considering

> tincturing the

> powder. Anyone tried this? I've never tinctured a powder before.

>

> ;-)

>

> Roxana

>

Dear Roxana,

According to Piesse in " The Art of Perfumery " Combine orris root with

alcohol and stand together for a month, then drain away. I think that

the Arctander book describes how to mix orris powder also. It is

different than the Piesse.

Orris has a very faint scent and is not used alone. It does magical

things in combined with floral. It's like the fizz in sodas. I love

it and recommend it highly.