"And so he would now study perfumes. . . He saw that there was no mood of the mind that had not its counterpart in the sensuous life, and set himself to discover their true relations, wondering what there was in frankincense that made one mystical, and in ambergrise that stirred one's passions, and in violets that woke the memory of dead romances, and in musk that troubled the brain, and in champak that stained the imagination; and seeking often to elaborate a real psychology of perfumes, and to estimate the several influences of sweet-smelling roots, and scented pollen-laden flowers, or aromatic balms, and of dark and fragrant woods, of spikenard that sickens, of hovenia that makes men mad, and of aloes that are said to be able to expel melancholy from the soul."
- Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray
4 comments:
What a find! I'll find my copy of the book at once .... and frankincense: is apt, as I'm using "Elixir" today.
Many thanks, dear Divina,
Linda ;-)
And a literary genius too, you are so amazing Divina...
//Z
Linda, I've loved this book ever since I was a teenager! Elixir? Ugh, I am probably totally braindead right now, cause it's not coming to me! Which one?
Aaargh, Z, I'm so sure I don't deserve this compliment, and no, I am not just being humble. I really don't deserve it! I wish I was, but I am not!
.... You are a sweetheart though :)
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