Yes, you have read that correctly. Again this story comes from a recent New Scientist (16th November 1991).

Smell plays an important part in our lives, much of the time in a subconscious manner. A scientist has recently invented a scent to treat bills with. Anyone opening such a bill is subconsciously convinced that they ought to pay it at once, as the smell is typical of powerful, domineering men who get what they want. If you suddenly get a strong urge to pay your poll tax bill, you now know the reason why!

This now leads onto the Napoleonic connection. French scientists have found the formula for Napoleon's personal scent, liberally splashed all over after he finished his baths. His smell is considered by some to be responsible for his power of command over troops, inspiring them to great military feats, although it is debatable how many of his men actually got to within smelling distance of the Emperor. He is supposed to have used this scent on all his successful manoeuvres, including those involving Josephine. The recipe for this perfume was found in a letter written by one of his servants on St. Helena, requesting materials to make up the scent.

Gives a whole new meaning to the term 'a whiff of grapeshot'!

More Dusty Archive

Introduction and Study Groups
Museums: Review of 23rd Foot Regt Museum
Monuments and Holidays
Books
Napoleon's Body Odor
1992 Meetings