FRAGRANT ROOMS.

Shannon News, 12 September 1924, Page 1

FRAGRANT ROOMS.

Guests bidden to their Majesties’ Courts or td Windsor for the first tim e are invariably charmed by the refreshing sweetness of the perfumed air in the reception and drawingrooms, add wonder at its source. Those admitted to the intimkcy of the Royal Family’s private apartments notice the same exquisite fragrance. It pervades the drawing-rooms too, at Marlborough House, York House, St. James’s Palace, Sandringham, in the Royal yachts, and whereever members of the Royal Family are in residence.

At times it suggests a whiff from an old-world garden where white pinks moss roses, lad's love, jessamine, sweet-briar, rosemary, lemon thyme, marjoram, and other fragrant herbs flourish. This old-world fragrance of the courts has never changed since the girlhood days' of Queen Victoria and her first courts.

The secret of its subtle blend is still preserved, and its use Was continued by King Edward, Queen Alexandra (who is especially fond of it), King George, the Prince of Wales, and the immediate members of the Itoyal Family. The salons on the Royal yacht at Cowes exhale the same refreshing- air as in the Royal residences on land.

At the recent courts the aromatic freshness of the air aroused the curiosity of the American debutantes. One of them was heard to say, “I wonder what it is. It is too fresh for potpourri. It reminds one of cottage garden flowers at home.” This refreshing effect is gained by diffusing the mysterious essence through a fine spray in the ballroom and all the apartments open for the courts a short time before the arrival of the guests, All the' carpets,, tapestries, and ' upholsteries %re lightly sprayed, and so the air becomes “odorous and sweet like wind flowers laden, scattering their, blossoms o’er the pathway of the fair.”