Protecting Oneself from Diseases Through Jewellery: Pomanders[i]

“Take two parts of amber and one of musk, adding slightly more musk. Both substances should be ground very finely, especially the musk. A day or two prior, soak alchitira —the very white kind— in water scented with musk, then warm some water, whichever is the mildest, and add the amber to it [...]” [i] With these words, a woman named Beatriz shared her recipe for preparing a pomander in the 17th century. Such items held a prominent place in Europe within the fields of medicine and perfumery....