Sachet (scented bag)
Encyclopedia
A sachet (ˈ) is a small cloth scented bag filled with herb
s, potpourri
, or aromatic ingredients
.
It is also defined as a small soft bag containing perfumed or sweet-smelling items also referred to as an ascent bag, scent bag, sweet bag, sachet bag, sachet de senteurs, spiced sachet, potpourri sachet, scented sachet, perfume cushion, smelling cushion, scented cushion, fragrant bag, pomander and "dream pillow."
both boys and girls wore sachets and in the Tang Dynasty
and Song Dynasty
scented bags gradually became preferred only by women. During the Chinese Warring States Period
a scented sachet was an ornament worn on the body and used to absorb sweat, repel insects and ward off evils. A scented sachet became a love token in the Qing Dynasty
. Queen Isabella of Spain
used fragrant sachets consisting of dried rose
and carnation
petals, orris and calamus
root, and other ingredients like powdered coriander
seeds. In the nineteenth century a sachet filled with hops
was called a "Pulvinar Humuli" and used by George the Third and Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg to help induce sleep.
In medieval times it was defined as a plague bag (sweet-smelling pomander) worn around the neck or dangled from the waist. It was for protection against pestiferous and corrupt air. These "sachets" contained sweet powders, aromatic calamus, benzoin
, storax
, galingale
, cloves, and other fragrances from a herb or flower garden. In modern times it is a small scent-bag laid among garments in a dresser
. It is a little cloth bag filled with some sweet smelling fragrance material like potpourri (i.e. dried flowers, herbs, citrus fruits).
s and outer garments sweet smelling as well as placed amongst linens
. Scented sachets are also hung in closets and cupboards. They are also put into briefcases and luggage. Some are used in stationary packets and others are put under pillows to help one sleep. Scented sachets are "sweet bags" (an old name for a small sachet cloth bag) and are put in automobiles, clothes dryer
s, clothes closets, inside or about children's stuffed animals, on the backs of chairs, and on doorknobs.
Sachets with herbs like hops and lavender act as a sedative. These type of sachets are often put in closets and dresser drawers for their scents.
Some "dream pillow" types of scented sachets (i.e. "hop pillows") are made with sleep inducing ingredients like hops, chamomile
, valerian
, skullcap
, and lavender
that help promote sleep. These scented sachets of aromatic herbs are also referred to as "herb pillows" or "sleep pillows" and are designed to overcome sleeplessness.
A sachet (ˈ) is a small cloth scented bag filled with herb
s, potpourri
, or aromatic ingredients
. Simmonds, p. 324 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY, p. 86 Duff, p. 34 Online Etymology Dictionary. "small perfumed bag," 1838, from Fr. sachet (12c.), dim. of sac (see sac). A reborrowing of a word that had been used 15c. in the sense "small bag, wallet."
It is also defined as a small soft bag containing perfumed or sweet-smelling items also referred to as an ascent bag, scent bag, sweet bag, sachet bag, sachet de senteurs, spiced sachet, potpourri sachet, scented sachet, perfume cushion, smelling cushion, scented cushion, fragrant bag, pomander and "dream pillow."Hunter, p. 4080Sweringen, p. 341Gasc, p. 500Tibbins, p. 943
both boys and girls wore sachets and in the Tang Dynasty
and Song Dynasty
scented bags gradually became preferred only by women. During the Chinese Warring States Period
a scented sachet was an ornament worn on the body and used to absorb sweat, repel insects and ward off evils. A scented sachet became a love token in the Qing Dynasty
. Queen Isabella of Spain
used fragrant sachets consisting of dried rose
and carnation
petals, orris and calamus
root, and other ingredients like powdered coriander
seeds. Garland, p. 223 In the nineteenth century a sachet filled with hops
was called a "Pulvinar Humuli" and used by George the Third and Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg to help induce sleep. Gutenberg ebook Herbal Simples Approved for Modern Uses of Cure
In medieval times it was defined as a plague bag (sweet-smelling pomander) worn around the neck or dangled from the waist. It was for protection against pestiferous and corrupt air. These "sachets" contained sweet powders, aromatic calamus, benzoin
, storax
, galingale
, cloves, and other fragrances from a herb or flower garden. In modern times it is a small scent-bag laid among garments in a dresser
. Merriam-Webster difinition It is a little cloth bag filled with some sweet smelling fragrance material like potpourri (i.e. dried flowers, herbs, citrus fruits).Hills, p. 129
s and outer garments sweet smelling as well as placed amongst linens
. Fettner, p. 91 Scented sachets are also hung in closets and cupboards. They are also put into briefcases and luggage. Some are used in stationary packets and others are put under pillows to help one sleep. Scented sachets are "sweet bags" (an old name for a small sachet cloth bag) and are put in automobiles, clothes dryer
s, clothes closets, inside or about children's stuffed animals, on the backs of chairs, and on doorknobs.Booth, p. 121
Sachets with herbs like hops and lavender act as a sedative. Buchanan, pp. 322, 333 These type of sachets are often put in closets and dresser drawers for their scents. Sisko, p. 31
Some "dream pillow" types of scented sachets (i.e. "hop pillows") are made with sleep inducing ingredients like hops, chamomile
, valerian
, skullcap
, and lavender
that help promote sleep. Garland, p. 268 Pillows stuffed with dried hops are an old treatment for insomnia. Chopra, p. 40 A sachet of hops is traditionally placed under a child's pillow to deliver sleep-inducing aromatherapy. Lust, p. 370 A small pillow filled with dried hops and slept on is a well-known folk remedy in many European countries for inducing a calm, restful sleep. Here's How To Make a Dream Pillow Dream pillows are used to promote restful sleep and pleasant dreams. They are small and flat, placed in a standard pillow, and stuffed with a sachet of calming and sleep-inducing dried herbs... George Washington reportedly used one filled with hops... These scented sachets of aromatic herbs are also referred to as "herb pillows" or "sleep pillows" and are designed to overcome sleeplessness. Walter, p. 123 The "herb pillows" of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries (little sacks of aromatic herbs thought to be a remedy for sleeplessness) always included lavender, clovepinks and costmary as principal ingredients. White, p. 111 There are several herbs that have a reputation for easing insomnia, and by creating a blend of these leaves and flowers, you can make small "herb pillows" to help you sleep. Murphy-Hiscock, p. 159 Sweet Dream Pillow - This pillow is designed to encourge relaxation and soothe restless sleep. Dream Pillows Dream Pillows
A sachet (ˈ) is a small cloth scented bag filled with herb
s, potpourri
, or aromatic ingredients
. Simmonds, p. 324 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY, p. 86 Duff, p. 34 Online Etymology Dictionary. "small perfumed bag," 1838, from Fr. sachet (12c.), dim. of sac (see sac). A reborrowing of a word that had been used 15c. in the sense "small bag, wallet."
It is also defined as a small soft bag containing perfumed or sweet-smelling items also referred to as an ascent bag, scent bag, sweet bag, sachet bag, sachet de senteurs, spiced sachet, potpourri sachet, scented sachet, perfume cushion, smelling cushion, scented cushion, fragrant bag, pomander and "dream pillow."Hunter, p. 4080Sweringen, p. 341Gasc, p. 500Tibbins, p. 943
both boys and girls wore sachets and in the Tang Dynasty
and Song Dynasty
scented bags gradually became preferred only by women. During the Chinese Warring States Period
a scented sachet was an ornament worn on the body and used to absorb sweat, repel insects and ward off evils. A scented sachet became a love token in the Qing Dynasty
. Queen Isabella of Spain
used fragrant sachets consisting of dried rose
and carnation
petals, orris and calamus
root, and other ingredients like powdered coriander
seeds. Garland, p. 223 In the nineteenth century a sachet filled with hops
was called a "Pulvinar Humuli" and used by George the Third and Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg to help induce sleep. Gutenberg ebook Herbal Simples Approved for Modern Uses of Cure
In medieval times it was defined as a plague bag (sweet-smelling pomander) worn around the neck or dangled from the waist. It was for protection against pestiferous and corrupt air. These "sachets" contained sweet powders, aromatic calamus, benzoin
, storax
, galingale
, cloves, and other fragrances from a herb or flower garden. In modern times it is a small scent-bag laid among garments in a dresser
. Merriam-Webster difinition It is a little cloth bag filled with some sweet smelling fragrance material like potpourri (i.e. dried flowers, herbs, citrus fruits).Hills, p. 129
s and outer garments sweet smelling as well as placed amongst linens
. Fettner, p. 91 Scented sachets are also hung in closets and cupboards. They are also put into briefcases and luggage. Some are used in stationary packets and others are put under pillows to help one sleep. Scented sachets are "sweet bags" (an old name for a small sachet cloth bag) and are put in automobiles, clothes dryer
s, clothes closets, inside or about children's stuffed animals, on the backs of chairs, and on doorknobs.Booth, p. 121
Sachets with herbs like hops and lavender act as a sedative. Buchanan, pp. 322, 333 These type of sachets are often put in closets and dresser drawers for their scents. Sisko, p. 31
Some "dream pillow" types of scented sachets (i.e. "hop pillows") are made with sleep inducing ingredients like hops, chamomile
, valerian
, skullcap
, and lavender
that help promote sleep. Garland, p. 268 Pillows stuffed with dried hops are an old treatment for insomnia. Chopra, p. 40 A sachet of hops is traditionally placed under a child's pillow to deliver sleep-inducing aromatherapy. Lust, p. 370 A small pillow filled with dried hops and slept on is a well-known folk remedy in many European countries for inducing a calm, restful sleep. Here's How To Make a Dream Pillow Dream pillows are used to promote restful sleep and pleasant dreams. They are small and flat, placed in a standard pillow, and stuffed with a sachet of calming and sleep-inducing dried herbs... George Washington reportedly used one filled with hops... These scented sachets of aromatic herbs are also referred to as "herb pillows" or "sleep pillows" and are designed to overcome sleeplessness. Walter, p. 123 The "herb pillows" of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries (little sacks of aromatic herbs thought to be a remedy for sleeplessness) always included lavender, clovepinks and costmary as principal ingredients. White, p. 111 There are several herbs that have a reputation for easing insomnia, and by creating a blend of these leaves and flowers, you can make small "herb pillows" to help you sleep. Murphy-Hiscock, p. 159 Sweet Dream Pillow - This pillow is designed to encourge relaxation and soothe restless sleep. Dream Pillows Dream Pillows Making herbal pillows Dream Pillows
In 1606 Ram's booklet Little Dodoen it gave a sachet formula to take to bed to help one sleep:
Certain herbs used in these type sachet "sleep pillows", like hops, have a soporific and a slight narcotic effect. These herb filled sachets are even called "dreamtime pillows". Knapp, p. 61 There are formulas using rosemary seeds to fill sachets and these are to be hung in a bedroom to promote sleep. The traditional method to treat insomnia with herb filled sachets of hops or lavender is to place them in, under or near your sleeping pillow. Calbom, p. 211 Williamson, p. 191 Mitrea, p. 31 Kothe, p. 46 Foster, p. 212 The "dream pillow" or "sleep pillow" sachet concept has been used for decades to help overcome sleeplessness. Bond, p. 265 These "sleep pillows" have a therapeutic effect and hops as an ingredient to this type of sachet are considered best at inducing sleep. Oster, p. 55 One type of "sleep pillow" sachet recipe by herb and flower author Penny Black calls for violets, rose petals, rosemary, tonka bean, vanilla bean, and a drop of lemon oil. Black, p. 66
mix put inside the sachet can be herbal items or flower parts.Black, pp. 57-71 Some sachets that are made from spices like allspice
, aniseed
, cinnamon
, clove
s, nutmeg
, and vanilla beans are referred to as "spiced sachets."Seton, p. 54 A scented sachet used as a pot holder that is stuffed with allspice, cinnamon and cloves will release an apple pie smell when a hot dish is put on it.
Other scented sachets are made from the winter savory
, lavender
, rosemary
, tops of hyssop
, chippings of cassia ligna, cedar
, and sassafras
.Freeman, p. 172 This type is not only used to make garments sweet smelling but keep away destructive insects and worms. Sachets with dried moth-repellent herbs like wormwood, southernwood, costmary, lavender, pennyroyal, lemon verbena rosemary, rue, sage and tansy are called "moth bags." Garland, p. 222
A sachet base can be made where you can add certain aromatic or perfumed oils later to make various sachets. Some types of sachets are called "Patchouli Sachet" (that goes with woolens and blankets); "Flordia Sachet" (which ingredients are fruity); "Oakasia Sachet"; "Orange-rose Sachet"; and "Sweet Bag of linen". Strobell, p. 139 Some scented sachets even have names like ""Heliotrope Sachet" and "Tonka Bean Sachet." Freeman, p. 173 Others still are called "Provencal pillows", "Country pillows" and "Pillows for Love".
Some are even made into Sweet Bag necklaces.Cox, p. 279 Some are decorated with embroidery, beads, buttons, ribbons, and fancy cloth. The oldest formula printed for a list of ingredients in an America scented sacket comes from a Colonial Williamsburg book, The Compleat Housewife
, published in 1742.Fettner, p. 95
Herb
Except in botanical usage, an herb is "any plant with leaves, seeds, or flowers used for flavoring, food, medicine, or perfume" or "a part of such a plant as used in cooking"...
s, potpourri
Potpourri
Potpourri is a mixture of dried, naturally fragrant plant material, used to provide a gentle natural scent in houses. It is usually placed in a decorative wooden bowl, or tied in small sachet made from sheer fabric....
, or aromatic ingredients
Aroma compound
An aroma compound, also known as odorant, aroma, fragrance or flavor, is a chemical compound that has a smell or odor...
.
It is also defined as a small soft bag containing perfumed or sweet-smelling items also referred to as an ascent bag, scent bag, sweet bag, sachet bag, sachet de senteurs, spiced sachet, potpourri sachet, scented sachet, perfume cushion, smelling cushion, scented cushion, fragrant bag, pomander and "dream pillow."
Cultural history
In the Han DynastyHan Dynasty
The Han Dynasty was the second imperial dynasty of China, preceded by the Qin Dynasty and succeeded by the Three Kingdoms . It was founded by the rebel leader Liu Bang, known posthumously as Emperor Gaozu of Han. It was briefly interrupted by the Xin Dynasty of the former regent Wang Mang...
both boys and girls wore sachets and in the Tang Dynasty
Tang Dynasty
The Tang Dynasty was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. It was founded by the Li family, who seized power during the decline and collapse of the Sui Empire...
and Song Dynasty
Song Dynasty
The Song Dynasty was a ruling dynasty in China between 960 and 1279; it succeeded the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period, and was followed by the Yuan Dynasty. It was the first government in world history to issue banknotes or paper money, and the first Chinese government to establish a...
scented bags gradually became preferred only by women. During the Chinese Warring States Period
Warring States Period
The Warring States Period , also known as the Era of Warring States, or the Warring Kingdoms period, covers the Iron Age period from about 475 BC to the reunification of China under the Qin Dynasty in 221 BC...
a scented sachet was an ornament worn on the body and used to absorb sweat, repel insects and ward off evils. A scented sachet became a love token in the Qing Dynasty
Qing Dynasty
The Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917. It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China....
. Queen Isabella of Spain
Isabella I of Castile
Isabella I was Queen of Castile and León. She and her husband Ferdinand II of Aragon brought stability to both kingdoms that became the basis for the unification of Spain. Later the two laid the foundations for the political unification of Spain under their grandson, Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor...
used fragrant sachets consisting of dried rose
Rose
A rose is a woody perennial of the genus Rosa, within the family Rosaceae. There are over 100 species. They form a group of erect shrubs, and climbing or trailing plants, with stems that are often armed with sharp prickles. Flowers are large and showy, in colours ranging from white through yellows...
and carnation
Carnation
Dianthus caryophyllus is a species of Dianthus. It is probably native to the Mediterranean region but its exact range is unknown due to extensive cultivation for the last 2,000 years. It is the wild ancestor of the garden carnation.It is a herbaceous perennial plant growing to 80 cm tall...
petals, orris and calamus
Calamus
Calamus may mean:*Calamus , a figure in Greek mythologyBotany and zoology*Sweet Flag , a tall wetland plant*Calamus , a genus of rattan palms*Calamus , a genus of fish in the family Sparidae...
root, and other ingredients like powdered coriander
Coriander
Coriander is an annual herb in the family Apiaceae. Coriander is native to southern Europe and North Africa to southwestern Asia. It is a soft, hairless plant growing to tall. The leaves are variable in shape, broadly lobed at the base of the plant, and slender and feathery higher on the...
seeds. In the nineteenth century a sachet filled with hops
Hops
Hops are the female flower clusters , of a hop species, Humulus lupulus. They are used primarily as a flavoring and stability agent in beer, to which they impart a bitter, tangy flavor, though hops are also used for various purposes in other beverages and herbal medicine...
was called a "Pulvinar Humuli" and used by George the Third and Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg to help induce sleep.
In medieval times it was defined as a plague bag (sweet-smelling pomander) worn around the neck or dangled from the waist. It was for protection against pestiferous and corrupt air. These "sachets" contained sweet powders, aromatic calamus, benzoin
Benzoin
Benzoin is an organic compound with the formula PhCHCPh. It is a hydroxy ketone attached to two phenyl groups. It appears as off-white crystals, with a light camphor-like odor. Benzoin is synthesized from benzaldehyde in the benzoin condensation...
, storax
Storax
Storax is also a name for trees in the genus StyraxStorax is the resinous exudate of the tree Liquidambar orientalis , occasionally used in incense or as an aromatic fixative in perfumery....
, galingale
Galingale
Galingale may refer to:*Galangal, one of several plants in the ginger family with aromatic rhizomes used for food and medicines*Galingale, one of several species of Cyperus sedges with aromatic rhizomes...
, cloves, and other fragrances from a herb or flower garden. In modern times it is a small scent-bag laid among garments in a dresser
Chest of drawers
A chest of drawers, also called a dresser or a bureau, is a piece of furniture that has multiple parallel, horizontal drawers stacked one above another...
. It is a little cloth bag filled with some sweet smelling fragrance material like potpourri (i.e. dried flowers, herbs, citrus fruits).
Uses
Scented sachets are for containing odorous substances to be laid among handkerchiefs to perfume them. They are also used to make undergarmentUndergarment
Undergarments or underwear are clothes worn under other clothes, often next to the skin. They keep outer garments from being soiled by bodily secretions and discharges, shape the body, and provide support for parts of it. In cold weather, long underwear is sometimes worn to provide additional...
s and outer garments sweet smelling as well as placed amongst linens
Linens
Linens are fabric household goods, such as pillowcases and towels.Originally, many, such as bed sheets and tablecloths, were made of linen. Today, the term "linen" has come to be applied to all related products even though most are made of cotton, synthetic fabrics or blends...
. Scented sachets are also hung in closets and cupboards. They are also put into briefcases and luggage. Some are used in stationary packets and others are put under pillows to help one sleep. Scented sachets are "sweet bags" (an old name for a small sachet cloth bag) and are put in automobiles, clothes dryer
Clothes dryer
A clothes dryer or tumble dryer is a household appliance that is used to remove moisture from a load of clothing and other textiles, generally shortly after they are cleaned in a washing machine....
s, clothes closets, inside or about children's stuffed animals, on the backs of chairs, and on doorknobs.
Sachets with herbs like hops and lavender act as a sedative. These type of sachets are often put in closets and dresser drawers for their scents.
Some "dream pillow" types of scented sachets (i.e. "hop pillows") are made with sleep inducing ingredients like hops, chamomile
Chamomile
Chamomile or camomile is a common name for several daisy-like plants of the family Asteraceae. These plants are best known for their ability to be made into an infusion which is commonly used to help with sleep and is often served with either honey or lemon. Because chamomile can cause uterine...
, valerian
Valerian (herb)
Valerian is a hardy perennial flowering plant, with heads of sweetly scented pink or white flowers which bloom in the summer months. Valerian flower extracts were used as a perfume in the sixteenth century....
, skullcap
Scutellaria
Scutellaria is a genus of flowering plants in the mint family, Lamiaceae. It contains about 300 species, which are commonly known as skullcaps...
, and lavender
Lavender
The lavenders are a genus of 39 species of flowering plants in the mint family, Lamiaceae. An Old World genus, distributed from Macaronesia across Africa, the Mediterranean, South-West Asia, Arabia, Western Iran and South-East India...
that help promote sleep. These scented sachets of aromatic herbs are also referred to as "herb pillows" or "sleep pillows" and are designed to overcome sleeplessness.
A sachet (ˈ) is a small cloth scented bag filled with herb
Herb
Except in botanical usage, an herb is "any plant with leaves, seeds, or flowers used for flavoring, food, medicine, or perfume" or "a part of such a plant as used in cooking"...
s, potpourri
Potpourri
Potpourri is a mixture of dried, naturally fragrant plant material, used to provide a gentle natural scent in houses. It is usually placed in a decorative wooden bowl, or tied in small sachet made from sheer fabric....
, or aromatic ingredients
Aroma compound
An aroma compound, also known as odorant, aroma, fragrance or flavor, is a chemical compound that has a smell or odor...
. Simmonds, p. 324 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY, p. 86 Duff, p. 34 Online Etymology Dictionary. "small perfumed bag," 1838, from Fr. sachet (12c.), dim. of sac (see sac). A reborrowing of a word that had been used 15c. in the sense "small bag, wallet."
It is also defined as a small soft bag containing perfumed or sweet-smelling items also referred to as an ascent bag, scent bag, sweet bag, sachet bag, sachet de senteurs, spiced sachet, potpourri sachet, scented sachet, perfume cushion, smelling cushion, scented cushion, fragrant bag, pomander and "dream pillow."Hunter, p. 4080Sweringen, p. 341Gasc, p. 500Tibbins, p. 943
Cultural history
In the Han DynastyHan Dynasty
The Han Dynasty was the second imperial dynasty of China, preceded by the Qin Dynasty and succeeded by the Three Kingdoms . It was founded by the rebel leader Liu Bang, known posthumously as Emperor Gaozu of Han. It was briefly interrupted by the Xin Dynasty of the former regent Wang Mang...
both boys and girls wore sachets and in the Tang Dynasty
Tang Dynasty
The Tang Dynasty was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. It was founded by the Li family, who seized power during the decline and collapse of the Sui Empire...
and Song Dynasty
Song Dynasty
The Song Dynasty was a ruling dynasty in China between 960 and 1279; it succeeded the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period, and was followed by the Yuan Dynasty. It was the first government in world history to issue banknotes or paper money, and the first Chinese government to establish a...
scented bags gradually became preferred only by women. During the Chinese Warring States Period
Warring States Period
The Warring States Period , also known as the Era of Warring States, or the Warring Kingdoms period, covers the Iron Age period from about 475 BC to the reunification of China under the Qin Dynasty in 221 BC...
a scented sachet was an ornament worn on the body and used to absorb sweat, repel insects and ward off evils. A scented sachet became a love token in the Qing Dynasty
Qing Dynasty
The Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917. It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China....
. Queen Isabella of Spain
Isabella I of Castile
Isabella I was Queen of Castile and León. She and her husband Ferdinand II of Aragon brought stability to both kingdoms that became the basis for the unification of Spain. Later the two laid the foundations for the political unification of Spain under their grandson, Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor...
used fragrant sachets consisting of dried rose
Rose
A rose is a woody perennial of the genus Rosa, within the family Rosaceae. There are over 100 species. They form a group of erect shrubs, and climbing or trailing plants, with stems that are often armed with sharp prickles. Flowers are large and showy, in colours ranging from white through yellows...
and carnation
Carnation
Dianthus caryophyllus is a species of Dianthus. It is probably native to the Mediterranean region but its exact range is unknown due to extensive cultivation for the last 2,000 years. It is the wild ancestor of the garden carnation.It is a herbaceous perennial plant growing to 80 cm tall...
petals, orris and calamus
Calamus
Calamus may mean:*Calamus , a figure in Greek mythologyBotany and zoology*Sweet Flag , a tall wetland plant*Calamus , a genus of rattan palms*Calamus , a genus of fish in the family Sparidae...
root, and other ingredients like powdered coriander
Coriander
Coriander is an annual herb in the family Apiaceae. Coriander is native to southern Europe and North Africa to southwestern Asia. It is a soft, hairless plant growing to tall. The leaves are variable in shape, broadly lobed at the base of the plant, and slender and feathery higher on the...
seeds. Garland, p. 223 In the nineteenth century a sachet filled with hops
Hops
Hops are the female flower clusters , of a hop species, Humulus lupulus. They are used primarily as a flavoring and stability agent in beer, to which they impart a bitter, tangy flavor, though hops are also used for various purposes in other beverages and herbal medicine...
was called a "Pulvinar Humuli" and used by George the Third and Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg to help induce sleep. Gutenberg ebook Herbal Simples Approved for Modern Uses of Cure
In medieval times it was defined as a plague bag (sweet-smelling pomander) worn around the neck or dangled from the waist. It was for protection against pestiferous and corrupt air. These "sachets" contained sweet powders, aromatic calamus, benzoin
Benzoin
Benzoin is an organic compound with the formula PhCHCPh. It is a hydroxy ketone attached to two phenyl groups. It appears as off-white crystals, with a light camphor-like odor. Benzoin is synthesized from benzaldehyde in the benzoin condensation...
, storax
Storax
Storax is also a name for trees in the genus StyraxStorax is the resinous exudate of the tree Liquidambar orientalis , occasionally used in incense or as an aromatic fixative in perfumery....
, galingale
Galingale
Galingale may refer to:*Galangal, one of several plants in the ginger family with aromatic rhizomes used for food and medicines*Galingale, one of several species of Cyperus sedges with aromatic rhizomes...
, cloves, and other fragrances from a herb or flower garden. In modern times it is a small scent-bag laid among garments in a dresser
Chest of drawers
A chest of drawers, also called a dresser or a bureau, is a piece of furniture that has multiple parallel, horizontal drawers stacked one above another...
. Merriam-Webster difinition It is a little cloth bag filled with some sweet smelling fragrance material like potpourri (i.e. dried flowers, herbs, citrus fruits).Hills, p. 129
Uses
Scented sachets are for containing odorous substances to be laid among handkerchiefs to perfume them. They are also used to make undergarmentUndergarment
Undergarments or underwear are clothes worn under other clothes, often next to the skin. They keep outer garments from being soiled by bodily secretions and discharges, shape the body, and provide support for parts of it. In cold weather, long underwear is sometimes worn to provide additional...
s and outer garments sweet smelling as well as placed amongst linens
Linens
Linens are fabric household goods, such as pillowcases and towels.Originally, many, such as bed sheets and tablecloths, were made of linen. Today, the term "linen" has come to be applied to all related products even though most are made of cotton, synthetic fabrics or blends...
. Fettner, p. 91 Scented sachets are also hung in closets and cupboards. They are also put into briefcases and luggage. Some are used in stationary packets and others are put under pillows to help one sleep. Scented sachets are "sweet bags" (an old name for a small sachet cloth bag) and are put in automobiles, clothes dryer
Clothes dryer
A clothes dryer or tumble dryer is a household appliance that is used to remove moisture from a load of clothing and other textiles, generally shortly after they are cleaned in a washing machine....
s, clothes closets, inside or about children's stuffed animals, on the backs of chairs, and on doorknobs.Booth, p. 121
Sachets with herbs like hops and lavender act as a sedative. Buchanan, pp. 322, 333 These type of sachets are often put in closets and dresser drawers for their scents. Sisko, p. 31
Some "dream pillow" types of scented sachets (i.e. "hop pillows") are made with sleep inducing ingredients like hops, chamomile
Chamomile
Chamomile or camomile is a common name for several daisy-like plants of the family Asteraceae. These plants are best known for their ability to be made into an infusion which is commonly used to help with sleep and is often served with either honey or lemon. Because chamomile can cause uterine...
, valerian
Valerian (herb)
Valerian is a hardy perennial flowering plant, with heads of sweetly scented pink or white flowers which bloom in the summer months. Valerian flower extracts were used as a perfume in the sixteenth century....
, skullcap
Scutellaria
Scutellaria is a genus of flowering plants in the mint family, Lamiaceae. It contains about 300 species, which are commonly known as skullcaps...
, and lavender
Lavender
The lavenders are a genus of 39 species of flowering plants in the mint family, Lamiaceae. An Old World genus, distributed from Macaronesia across Africa, the Mediterranean, South-West Asia, Arabia, Western Iran and South-East India...
that help promote sleep. Garland, p. 268 Pillows stuffed with dried hops are an old treatment for insomnia. Chopra, p. 40 A sachet of hops is traditionally placed under a child's pillow to deliver sleep-inducing aromatherapy. Lust, p. 370 A small pillow filled with dried hops and slept on is a well-known folk remedy in many European countries for inducing a calm, restful sleep. Here's How To Make a Dream Pillow Dream pillows are used to promote restful sleep and pleasant dreams. They are small and flat, placed in a standard pillow, and stuffed with a sachet of calming and sleep-inducing dried herbs... George Washington reportedly used one filled with hops... These scented sachets of aromatic herbs are also referred to as "herb pillows" or "sleep pillows" and are designed to overcome sleeplessness. Walter, p. 123 The "herb pillows" of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries (little sacks of aromatic herbs thought to be a remedy for sleeplessness) always included lavender, clovepinks and costmary as principal ingredients. White, p. 111 There are several herbs that have a reputation for easing insomnia, and by creating a blend of these leaves and flowers, you can make small "herb pillows" to help you sleep. Murphy-Hiscock, p. 159 Sweet Dream Pillow - This pillow is designed to encourge relaxation and soothe restless sleep. Dream Pillows Dream Pillows
A sachet (ˈ) is a small cloth scented bag filled with herb
Herb
Except in botanical usage, an herb is "any plant with leaves, seeds, or flowers used for flavoring, food, medicine, or perfume" or "a part of such a plant as used in cooking"...
s, potpourri
Potpourri
Potpourri is a mixture of dried, naturally fragrant plant material, used to provide a gentle natural scent in houses. It is usually placed in a decorative wooden bowl, or tied in small sachet made from sheer fabric....
, or aromatic ingredients
Aroma compound
An aroma compound, also known as odorant, aroma, fragrance or flavor, is a chemical compound that has a smell or odor...
. Simmonds, p. 324 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY, p. 86 Duff, p. 34 Online Etymology Dictionary. "small perfumed bag," 1838, from Fr. sachet (12c.), dim. of sac (see sac). A reborrowing of a word that had been used 15c. in the sense "small bag, wallet."
It is also defined as a small soft bag containing perfumed or sweet-smelling items also referred to as an ascent bag, scent bag, sweet bag, sachet bag, sachet de senteurs, spiced sachet, potpourri sachet, scented sachet, perfume cushion, smelling cushion, scented cushion, fragrant bag, pomander and "dream pillow."Hunter, p. 4080Sweringen, p. 341Gasc, p. 500Tibbins, p. 943
Cultural history
In the Han DynastyHan Dynasty
The Han Dynasty was the second imperial dynasty of China, preceded by the Qin Dynasty and succeeded by the Three Kingdoms . It was founded by the rebel leader Liu Bang, known posthumously as Emperor Gaozu of Han. It was briefly interrupted by the Xin Dynasty of the former regent Wang Mang...
both boys and girls wore sachets and in the Tang Dynasty
Tang Dynasty
The Tang Dynasty was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. It was founded by the Li family, who seized power during the decline and collapse of the Sui Empire...
and Song Dynasty
Song Dynasty
The Song Dynasty was a ruling dynasty in China between 960 and 1279; it succeeded the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period, and was followed by the Yuan Dynasty. It was the first government in world history to issue banknotes or paper money, and the first Chinese government to establish a...
scented bags gradually became preferred only by women. During the Chinese Warring States Period
Warring States Period
The Warring States Period , also known as the Era of Warring States, or the Warring Kingdoms period, covers the Iron Age period from about 475 BC to the reunification of China under the Qin Dynasty in 221 BC...
a scented sachet was an ornament worn on the body and used to absorb sweat, repel insects and ward off evils. A scented sachet became a love token in the Qing Dynasty
Qing Dynasty
The Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917. It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China....
. Queen Isabella of Spain
Isabella I of Castile
Isabella I was Queen of Castile and León. She and her husband Ferdinand II of Aragon brought stability to both kingdoms that became the basis for the unification of Spain. Later the two laid the foundations for the political unification of Spain under their grandson, Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor...
used fragrant sachets consisting of dried rose
Rose
A rose is a woody perennial of the genus Rosa, within the family Rosaceae. There are over 100 species. They form a group of erect shrubs, and climbing or trailing plants, with stems that are often armed with sharp prickles. Flowers are large and showy, in colours ranging from white through yellows...
and carnation
Carnation
Dianthus caryophyllus is a species of Dianthus. It is probably native to the Mediterranean region but its exact range is unknown due to extensive cultivation for the last 2,000 years. It is the wild ancestor of the garden carnation.It is a herbaceous perennial plant growing to 80 cm tall...
petals, orris and calamus
Calamus
Calamus may mean:*Calamus , a figure in Greek mythologyBotany and zoology*Sweet Flag , a tall wetland plant*Calamus , a genus of rattan palms*Calamus , a genus of fish in the family Sparidae...
root, and other ingredients like powdered coriander
Coriander
Coriander is an annual herb in the family Apiaceae. Coriander is native to southern Europe and North Africa to southwestern Asia. It is a soft, hairless plant growing to tall. The leaves are variable in shape, broadly lobed at the base of the plant, and slender and feathery higher on the...
seeds. Garland, p. 223 In the nineteenth century a sachet filled with hops
Hops
Hops are the female flower clusters , of a hop species, Humulus lupulus. They are used primarily as a flavoring and stability agent in beer, to which they impart a bitter, tangy flavor, though hops are also used for various purposes in other beverages and herbal medicine...
was called a "Pulvinar Humuli" and used by George the Third and Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg to help induce sleep. Gutenberg ebook Herbal Simples Approved for Modern Uses of Cure
In medieval times it was defined as a plague bag (sweet-smelling pomander) worn around the neck or dangled from the waist. It was for protection against pestiferous and corrupt air. These "sachets" contained sweet powders, aromatic calamus, benzoin
Benzoin
Benzoin is an organic compound with the formula PhCHCPh. It is a hydroxy ketone attached to two phenyl groups. It appears as off-white crystals, with a light camphor-like odor. Benzoin is synthesized from benzaldehyde in the benzoin condensation...
, storax
Storax
Storax is also a name for trees in the genus StyraxStorax is the resinous exudate of the tree Liquidambar orientalis , occasionally used in incense or as an aromatic fixative in perfumery....
, galingale
Galingale
Galingale may refer to:*Galangal, one of several plants in the ginger family with aromatic rhizomes used for food and medicines*Galingale, one of several species of Cyperus sedges with aromatic rhizomes...
, cloves, and other fragrances from a herb or flower garden. In modern times it is a small scent-bag laid among garments in a dresser
Chest of drawers
A chest of drawers, also called a dresser or a bureau, is a piece of furniture that has multiple parallel, horizontal drawers stacked one above another...
. Merriam-Webster difinition It is a little cloth bag filled with some sweet smelling fragrance material like potpourri (i.e. dried flowers, herbs, citrus fruits).Hills, p. 129
Uses
Scented sachets are for containing odorous substances to be laid among handkerchiefs to perfume them. They are also used to make undergarmentUndergarment
Undergarments or underwear are clothes worn under other clothes, often next to the skin. They keep outer garments from being soiled by bodily secretions and discharges, shape the body, and provide support for parts of it. In cold weather, long underwear is sometimes worn to provide additional...
s and outer garments sweet smelling as well as placed amongst linens
Linens
Linens are fabric household goods, such as pillowcases and towels.Originally, many, such as bed sheets and tablecloths, were made of linen. Today, the term "linen" has come to be applied to all related products even though most are made of cotton, synthetic fabrics or blends...
. Fettner, p. 91 Scented sachets are also hung in closets and cupboards. They are also put into briefcases and luggage. Some are used in stationary packets and others are put under pillows to help one sleep. Scented sachets are "sweet bags" (an old name for a small sachet cloth bag) and are put in automobiles, clothes dryer
Clothes dryer
A clothes dryer or tumble dryer is a household appliance that is used to remove moisture from a load of clothing and other textiles, generally shortly after they are cleaned in a washing machine....
s, clothes closets, inside or about children's stuffed animals, on the backs of chairs, and on doorknobs.Booth, p. 121
Sachets with herbs like hops and lavender act as a sedative. Buchanan, pp. 322, 333 These type of sachets are often put in closets and dresser drawers for their scents. Sisko, p. 31
Some "dream pillow" types of scented sachets (i.e. "hop pillows") are made with sleep inducing ingredients like hops, chamomile
Chamomile
Chamomile or camomile is a common name for several daisy-like plants of the family Asteraceae. These plants are best known for their ability to be made into an infusion which is commonly used to help with sleep and is often served with either honey or lemon. Because chamomile can cause uterine...
, valerian
Valerian (herb)
Valerian is a hardy perennial flowering plant, with heads of sweetly scented pink or white flowers which bloom in the summer months. Valerian flower extracts were used as a perfume in the sixteenth century....
, skullcap
Scutellaria
Scutellaria is a genus of flowering plants in the mint family, Lamiaceae. It contains about 300 species, which are commonly known as skullcaps...
, and lavender
Lavender
The lavenders are a genus of 39 species of flowering plants in the mint family, Lamiaceae. An Old World genus, distributed from Macaronesia across Africa, the Mediterranean, South-West Asia, Arabia, Western Iran and South-East India...
that help promote sleep. Garland, p. 268 Pillows stuffed with dried hops are an old treatment for insomnia. Chopra, p. 40 A sachet of hops is traditionally placed under a child's pillow to deliver sleep-inducing aromatherapy. Lust, p. 370 A small pillow filled with dried hops and slept on is a well-known folk remedy in many European countries for inducing a calm, restful sleep. Here's How To Make a Dream Pillow Dream pillows are used to promote restful sleep and pleasant dreams. They are small and flat, placed in a standard pillow, and stuffed with a sachet of calming and sleep-inducing dried herbs... George Washington reportedly used one filled with hops... These scented sachets of aromatic herbs are also referred to as "herb pillows" or "sleep pillows" and are designed to overcome sleeplessness. Walter, p. 123 The "herb pillows" of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries (little sacks of aromatic herbs thought to be a remedy for sleeplessness) always included lavender, clovepinks and costmary as principal ingredients. White, p. 111 There are several herbs that have a reputation for easing insomnia, and by creating a blend of these leaves and flowers, you can make small "herb pillows" to help you sleep. Murphy-Hiscock, p. 159 Sweet Dream Pillow - This pillow is designed to encourge relaxation and soothe restless sleep. Dream Pillows Dream Pillows Making herbal pillows Dream Pillows
In 1606 Ram's booklet Little Dodoen it gave a sachet formula to take to bed to help one sleep:
Certain herbs used in these type sachet "sleep pillows", like hops, have a soporific and a slight narcotic effect. These herb filled sachets are even called "dreamtime pillows". Knapp, p. 61 There are formulas using rosemary seeds to fill sachets and these are to be hung in a bedroom to promote sleep. The traditional method to treat insomnia with herb filled sachets of hops or lavender is to place them in, under or near your sleeping pillow. Calbom, p. 211 Williamson, p. 191 Mitrea, p. 31 Kothe, p. 46 Foster, p. 212 The "dream pillow" or "sleep pillow" sachet concept has been used for decades to help overcome sleeplessness. Bond, p. 265 These "sleep pillows" have a therapeutic effect and hops as an ingredient to this type of sachet are considered best at inducing sleep. Oster, p. 55 One type of "sleep pillow" sachet recipe by herb and flower author Penny Black calls for violets, rose petals, rosemary, tonka bean, vanilla bean, and a drop of lemon oil. Black, p. 66
Types
Scented sachets are many times homemade and come in many sizes, styles, shapes and fragrances. A typical size would be approximately 4 inches square or thereabouts - some as small as a one inch ball and others as large as a 8 inch square. Many are in the shape of a plump little pillow.Black, p. 96 The potpourriPotpourri
Potpourri is a mixture of dried, naturally fragrant plant material, used to provide a gentle natural scent in houses. It is usually placed in a decorative wooden bowl, or tied in small sachet made from sheer fabric....
mix put inside the sachet can be herbal items or flower parts.Black, pp. 57-71 Some sachets that are made from spices like allspice
Allspice
Allspice, also called Jamaica pepper, pepper, myrtle pepper, pimenta, or newspice, is a spice that is the dried unripe fruit of Pimenta dioica , a mid-canopy tree native to the Greater Antilles, southern Mexico, and Central America, now cultivated in many warm parts of the world...
, aniseed
Anise
Anise , Pimpinella anisum, also called aniseed, is a flowering plant in the family Apiaceae native to the eastern Mediterranean region and Southwest Asia. Its flavor resembles that of liquorice, fennel, and tarragon.- Biology :...
, cinnamon
Cinnamon
Cinnamon is a spice obtained from the inner bark of several trees from the genus Cinnamomum that is used in both sweet and savoury foods...
, clove
Clove
Cloves are the aromatic dried flower buds of a tree in the family Myrtaceae. Cloves are native to the Maluku islands in Indonesia and used as a spice in cuisines all over the world...
s, nutmeg
Nutmeg
The nutmeg tree is any of several species of trees in genus Myristica. The most important commercial species is Myristica fragrans, an evergreen tree indigenous to the Banda Islands in the Moluccas of Indonesia...
, and vanilla beans are referred to as "spiced sachets."Seton, p. 54 A scented sachet used as a pot holder that is stuffed with allspice, cinnamon and cloves will release an apple pie smell when a hot dish is put on it.
Other scented sachets are made from the winter savory
Savory
Savory or Savoury may refer to:* Savory , herbs of the genus Satureja, particularly :** Summer savory , an annual herb** Winter savory , a perennial herb* Savoriness, a type of taste....
, lavender
Lavender
The lavenders are a genus of 39 species of flowering plants in the mint family, Lamiaceae. An Old World genus, distributed from Macaronesia across Africa, the Mediterranean, South-West Asia, Arabia, Western Iran and South-East India...
, rosemary
Rosemary
Rosemary, , is a woody, perennial herb with fragrant, evergreen, needle-like leaves and white, pink, purple or blue flowers, native to the Mediterranean region. It is a member of the mint family Lamiaceae, which includes many other herbs, and is one of two species in the genus Rosmarinus...
, tops of hyssop
Hyssop
Hyssop is a genus of about 10-12 species of herbaceous or semi-woody plants in the family Lamiaceae, native from the east Mediterranean to central Asia. They are aromatic, with erect branched stems up to 60 cm long covered with fine hairs at the tips. The leaves are narrow oblong, 2–5 cm...
, chippings of cassia ligna, cedar
Cedar wood
Cedar wood comes from several different trees that grow in different parts of the world, and may have different uses.* California incense-cedar, from Calocedrus decurrens, is the primary type of wood used for making pencils...
, and sassafras
Sassafras
Sassafras is a genus of three extant and one extinct species of deciduous trees in the family Lauraceae, native to eastern North America and eastern Asia.-Overview:...
.Freeman, p. 172 This type is not only used to make garments sweet smelling but keep away destructive insects and worms. Sachets with dried moth-repellent herbs like wormwood, southernwood, costmary, lavender, pennyroyal, lemon verbena rosemary, rue, sage and tansy are called "moth bags." Garland, p. 222
A sachet base can be made where you can add certain aromatic or perfumed oils later to make various sachets. Some types of sachets are called "Patchouli Sachet" (that goes with woolens and blankets); "Flordia Sachet" (which ingredients are fruity); "Oakasia Sachet"; "Orange-rose Sachet"; and "Sweet Bag of linen". Strobell, p. 139 Some scented sachets even have names like ""Heliotrope Sachet" and "Tonka Bean Sachet." Freeman, p. 173 Others still are called "Provencal pillows", "Country pillows" and "Pillows for Love".
Some are even made into Sweet Bag necklaces.Cox, p. 279 Some are decorated with embroidery, beads, buttons, ribbons, and fancy cloth. The oldest formula printed for a list of ingredients in an America scented sacket comes from a Colonial Williamsburg book, The Compleat Housewife
The Compleat Housewife
The Compleat Housewife, or Accomplish'd Gentlewoman's Companion, written by Eliza Smith and originally published in London, England, in 1727, is considered the first cookbook ever to be published in the United States...
, published in 1742.Fettner, p. 95
Gallery
Sources
- Black, Penny, The book of potpourri: fragrant flower mixes for scenting & decorating the home, Simon and Schuster, 1989, ISBN 0671682105
- Bond, Annie B., Home Enlightenment: Practical, Earth-Friendly Advice for Creating a Nurturing, Healthy, and Toxin-Free Home and Lifestyle, Rodale, 2005, ISBN 1579548113
- Booth, Nancy M., Perfumes, splashes & colognes: discovering & crafting your personal fragrances, Storey Publishing, 1997, ISBN 0882669850
- Buchanan, Rita, Taylor's guide to herbs, Houghton Mifflin, 1995, ISBN 0395680816
- BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY, published 1930
- Calbom, Cherie, The Juice Lady's Guide to Juicing for Health, Avery, 2000, ISBN 0895299992
- Chopra, Deepak, A sachet ot hops is traditionally placed under a child's pillow to deliver sleep-inducing aromatherapy., Random House, Inc., 2000, ISBN 0609803905
- Cox, Janice, Natural beauty from the garden: more than 200 do-it-yourself beauty recipes and garden ideas, Macmillan, 1999, ISBN 0805057811
- Duff, Gail, Natural Fragrances: Outdoor Scents for Indoor Uses, Storey Publishing, LLC, 1991, ISBN 0882666835
- Fettner, Ann Tucker, Potpourri, incense, and other fragrant concoctions, Workman Pub. Co., 1977, ISBN 0911104976
- Fleming Charles, Royal dictionary, English and French and French and English, Volume 2, Firmin-Didot and Company, 1885
- Foster, Steven, National Geographic Desk Reference to Nature's Medicine, National Geographic Books, 2008, ISBN 1426202938
- Freeman, Sally, Ageless Natural Beauty, Barnes & Noble Publishing, 2002, ISBN 0760733732
- Garland, Sarah, The Complete Book of Herbs and Spices, frances lincoln ltd, 2004, ISBN 0711223742
- Gasc, Ferdinand E. A., Dictionary of the French and English languages: with more than fifteen thousand new words, meanings, etc.., H. Holt and Company, 1876
- Hemphill, Rosemary, Fragrance and flavour: the growing and use of herbs, Angus and Robertson, 1960, Pennsylvania State University
- Hills, William Henry, The Writer, Volume 6, The Writer, 1893
- Hunter, Robert, Universal dictionary of the English language: a new and original work presenting for convenient reference the orthography, pronunciation, meaning, use, origin and development of every word in the English language ..., P. F. Collier, 1897
- Knapp, Jennifer, Beauty Magic: 101 Recipes, Spells, and Secrets , Chronicle Books, 2004, ISBN 0811842223
- Kothe, Erika B, Jewels from Heaven , iUniverse, 2004, ISBN 0595317189
- Lust, John, The Natural Remedy Bible, Simon and Schuster, 2003, ISBN 074346642X
- Mitrea, MD (Eur), ND Liliana Stadler, Natural medicine mosaic, Natural Medicine Books, 2007, ISBN 0978494709
- Murphy-Hiscock, Arin, The way of the green witch: rituals, spells, and practices to bring you back to nature, Adams Media, 2006, ISBN 159337500X
- Oster, Maggie, Ortho's all about herbs, Meredith Books, 1999, ISBN 089721420X
- Pereira, Jonathan, Title The Elements of Materia Medica and Therapeutics: including notices of most of the medical substandces in use in the civilized world, and forming an Encyclopaedia of Materia Medica, Volume 1, Longman, 1854
- Rohde, Eleanour Sinclair, Rose Recipes from Olden Times, Courier Dover Publications, 1973, ISBN 0486229572
- Rose, Jeanne, Herbs & Things: Jeanne Rose's Herbal, Last Gasp, 2002, ISBN 0867195258
- Seton, Susannah, Simple Pleasures of the Home: Comforts and Crafts for Living Well, Conari, 2002, ISBN 1573248541
- Simmonds, Peter Lund, The dictionary of trade products, manufacturing, and technical terms: with a definition of the moneys, weights, and measures of all countries, G. Routledge, 1858
- Sisko, Eileen, Nature power then and now, Mason County Historical Society, 1984, ISBN 0911377077
- Strobell, Adah Parker, Like it was: Bicentennial games 'n fun handbook, Acropolis Books, 1975, ISBN 0874910595
- Sweringen, Hiram V., A dictionary of pharmaceutical science: a guide for the pharmaceutist, druggist, and physician..., P. Blakiston, 1882
- Walter, John T., hints & pinches, Hill Steet Press, 2002, ISBN 1892514982
- Webster, Helen, Herbs - How to Grow Them and How to Use Them, READ BOOKS, 2008, ISBN 1443736325
- White, Susan, Herbs Teach Yourself Book, NTC Pub. Group, 1993, ISBN 0844239283
- Williamson, Karen, Sleep Deep: Simple Techniques for Beating Insomnia , Perigee, 2007, ISBN 0399533230