Sylvia Rose
Copper(II) Sulfate: Blue Vitriol, Chalcanthite
Copper (II) sulfate CuSO4 yields a vivid color and widespread applications. Also known as blue vitriol in alchemy and chalcanthite in...
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Sylvia Rose
3 days ago4 min read
Lye (NaOH): Caustic Soda for Soap & Glass
Lye or sodium hydroxide (NaOH) is a vital part of human history. Also called caustic soda, lye is a white odorless solid. A strong...
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Sylvia Rose
4 days ago5 min read
Fungal Biofilms: Ecology of Biofilm-Producing Molds
Fungal biofilms are integral to ecosystems. Often unnoticed, these living structures exemplify microorganism cooperation in survival,...
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Sylvia Rose
4 days ago6 min read
Glycerin (Glycerol): Darling of Cosmetics, Health & Science
Glycerin, also known as glycerol or glycerine, is a simple polyol compound with the chemical formula C3H8O3. This colorless, odorless,...
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Sylvia Rose
5 days ago5 min read
Iron(III) Oxide: Creation, Art & Science
Iron(III) oxide or ferric oxide (Fe2O3) yields a striking red color as a pigment, and has a wide range of uses. From industrial...
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Sylvia Rose
5 days ago6 min read
Oil-Dwelling Microbes: Bacteria, Yeast, Fungi
Culinary oils are teeming with microbial life such as bacteria, yeast and fungi. Popular oils like olive oil, vegetable oil, almond oil,...
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Sylvia Rose
7 days ago5 min read
Silverpoint Drawing: Art of the Renaissance
Silverpoint is a drawing medium with distinct artistic potential. This delicate and precise medium has a rich history, unique properties,...
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Sylvia Rose
Nov 18 min read
11 Favorite Drawing Mediums of Artists
Drawing is a creative expression for humans since cave paintings of prehistory. In art, anything making a mark is a drawing tool....
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Sylvia Rose
Nov 14 min read
Sanguine: Red Chalk of Renaissance Masters
Sanguine is a rich, reddish-brown chalk beloved by Renaissance artists such as Michelangelo. Creating flesh-like tones in the human form...
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Sylvia Rose
Nov 15 min read
Guar Gum: Unique Qualities for Art & Crafts
Guar gum is recognized for its unique natural properties in visual arts and crafting. From enhancing textures to creating custom paints,...
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Sylvia Rose
Oct 313 min read
Mosaic Gold: Alchemy of a Forgotten Art
Mosaic gold is also known to alchemists as aurum musivum or aurum mosaicum due to its mottled formation. Forgotten in the data fields...
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Sylvia Rose
Oct 313 min read
Chloroauric Acid: Gold Salts & Extraction
Chloroauric acid H[AuCl4] is a yellow solution created in the 18th century. A gold(III) salt, chloroauric acid is an innovative compound,...
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Sylvia Rose
Oct 314 min read
Aromatic Cold Oil Infusions: DIY Alchemy Perfumes
Aromatic cold infused oil is a rich artisan tradition of culture and the art of allure. This ancient form of perfume-making connects...
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Sylvia Rose
Oct 303 min read
Artisan Perfumery: Four Degrees of Fragrance
Perfumes are grouped according to their strengths. Every fragrance has a purpose, from a fresh splash of rose or mint to mysterious...
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Sylvia Rose
Oct 304 min read
Practical Alchemy of DIY Perfumes & Aromas
The alchemy of perfumes goes back thousands of years. Here are the practical aspects of perfumes in ancient and medieval times, how...
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Sylvia Rose
Oct 303 min read
Alchemy of Perfumes: Scents, Cologne, Rose Water
Perfumes are prized in ancient civilizations such as Mesopotamia, Egypt, India and China. The word “perfume” comes from Latin per fumum ,...
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Sylvia Rose
Oct 287 min read
12 Steps to the Magnum Opus: Ripley Scroll
Alchemy seeks the magnum opus or great work. This twelve step program comes from the anonymous Ripley Scroll, so called as alchemist...
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Sylvia Rose
Oct 274 min read
Prussic Acid: Secrets of Hydrogen Cyanide
Prussic acid, widely known as hydrogen cyanide (HCN), is a compound with rich history and unique properties, and one of the most...
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Sylvia Rose
Oct 276 min read
Invisible World: Prokaryotes & Animalcules
Prokaryotes are single-celled organisms making up 10% of the Earth's total biomass. They're essential to the ecosystem and human life....
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Sylvia Rose
Oct 278 min read
Scientific Revolution Europe 1543-1687
The Scientific Revolution, from 1543 to 1687, transforms human understanding of the natural world. This period involves events and...
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