Help! Biblical perfume reference

Hi Dimi, I think this would be a good book to check:
Figs, Dates, Laurel, and Myrrh: Plants of the Bible and the Quran (Hardcover)
By Lytton John Musselman
Timber Press, 2007

The entries are written by a botanist and are substantial. I may have this in my school's library, I'll check further.

PS -- here is an older book, also useful
Zohary, Michael. Plants of the Bible . Cambridge: University Press, 1982

PPS - (things keep occurring to me..)
The Encyclopedia Judaica (multi-volume work) is usually a font of info. A good academic library will have this. I can check on all of these for you.

In this reference it says "Persimmons would not have been known to the people of the Bible". See:

http://books.google.com/books?id=Xwq...age&q=&f=false

Still haven't checked into it, but the problem with many references to historical ingredients is that the English translated name may not be the actual plant of history. What the Romans called "persimmon" may be something completely different from what we call by that name. Translation is difficult, and the modern system of botanical designation is a somewhat modern enterprise.

OK -- it appears that there is confusion in the source your friend is using. References to afarsimmon etc. don't appear to refer to a plant.
EJ says, "In the Talmud and Midrash, afarsemon designates the perfume extracted from the sap of the Commophora opobalsamum , which is the balm tree."
En-Gedi is an oasis in the south of Israel. This area was famous since the 7th century BC for the production of a substance, I'll put it in English letters for the Hebrew -- bsm or blsm -- in other words balm or balsam. This was a spicy resin.
Rabbinic sources preserve the tradition that after King Josiah hid the holy oil of Moses, balsam oil was used in its place to anoint kings (Babylonian Talmud, Seder Kodashim, tractate Kerithoth 5b). But I don't think there is any evidence that Josiah instituted the change.
Many Greek and Roman sources speak of the balsam of En Gedi, often calling it the "Balm of Gilead".
The Roman historian Pliny the Elder writes of the Jewish-Roman struggles over this territory and crop, Historia Naturalis 12:25.

Here's where you or your friend will need to look. Encyclopedia Judaica, "Balsam", also "En-Gedi" and a brief mention in "Anointing."
Mussleman discusses this under the plant category "Terebrinth" and Zohary under "Balm".
"Persimmon" is not an entry at all, nor is it a word in the King James bible.
I hope this is clear. This is a complex area, and EJ assumes a detailed knowledge of history. Check with me further or PM me if you want more info. If the Mussleman and Zohary books are not easily available, I can photocopy the relevant pages.
Cheers, ody
this was fun!

PS - what is interesting is the idea (perhaps often seen in the world of perfume) that there was some mysterious, esoteric, lost substance. The evidence suggests the opposite. But the appeal of the esoteric is so strong!

These may also be of some use:

foung by googling "persimmon history bible perfumery fragrance"

http://www.wysinfo.com/Perfume/Perfume_history.htm

http://gourmetfood.suite101.com/arti...ince_persimmon

http://www.google.com.ng/search?q=pe...ne-navbar&cd=3

Other links provided in Google

Glad this was helpful.
Zohary says "there are about 100 species of Commophora , formerly known as Balsamodenron , some of which are notably resinferous, or gum-exuding."
Musselman takes a different line. He assumes that the plant actually is Pistacia lentiscus , a large tree native to the region which produces resin. Musselman is a skilled botanist and has a good grasp of history so he may be onto something.
But Zohary is taking the more conventional assessment, and it is wisest to start there before branching off... I'm not a scientist in any sense so I can't easily arbitrate here.

I don't know if contacting this company will help you, but I understand there has been a renewed interest in the ancient art of perfume making in Ein Gedi. This company reportedly makes their perfumes based on ancient world formulations. Maybe they will know something about the use of afarsimmon in ancient Israeli perfumery. (click on the "Biblical Perfumes" icon):

http://www.eingedi.net/

I have purchased King David and King Solomon from them, and was quite pleased with the fragrances.

This quote is lifted from their site:

"Perfumes-

Ein Gedi Cosmetics produces original perfumes based on natural essences made of plants characteristic of the Land of the Bible and flowers from the Holy Land. The perfume bottles are hand painted and undergo traditional manual antiquing and oven firing to achieve the special tints of ancient glass.
Our Perfumes Include: Light of Jerusalem, King Solomon, Lion of Judah, Lily of the Valleys, Rose of Sharon, Essence of Ein Gedi, Essence of Masada, Essence of Qumran."

Another thanks, bossanova boy. I'm certainly intrigued by the scents of that company, and I have a couple of friends who also will be interested.

Wow! This information and these links will keep me amused for hours. This is the sort of stuff that keeps me coming back to Basenotes. Thanks everyone.