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Diotimos Library · Esotericism & Spirituality Collection · English Edition

Gerhard Dorn and John French

A Chymical Dictionary

An Expanded Diotimos Lexicon of Paracelsian and Alchemical Language

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A Chymical DictionaryOdorifera

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English Edition · Branch 541 of 740

Odorifera

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A Chymical Dictionary

p. 541

Odorifera

Body disease and historical medicine · A Chymical Dictionary

At a Glance

The word. Medicines grouped through the action attributed to their odour.

In the book. Narcotica are grouped by causing sleep and Mitigativa by easing pain.

A place to read. The historical definition below, 1650 dictionary, unnumbered definition page 36; facsimile PDF page 364.

Historical Definition

Odorifera are medicines which expel diseases through their smell, whether pleasant or unpleasant.

Meaning

The pleasantness of the smell is not the criterion. The definition expressly includes good and bad odours, assigning medicinal action to either. It does not specify whether a particular preparation is inhaled, applied or otherwise used.

Use in the Book

Narcotica are grouped by causing sleep and Mitigativa by easing pain. Odorifera differs by naming a sensible property through which an action is said to occur. The distinction concerns the compiler’s classification of medicines, rather than a list of common ingredients.

Places to Read

Narcotica. Medicines classified through a sleep-producing effect.

Mitigativa. A class of surgical medicines defined by easing pain.

Historical source: 1650 dictionary, unnumbered definition page 36; facsimile PDF page 364 — Facsimile

Sources. A Chymical Dictionary 1650, 1650 dictionary, facsimile PDF page 364, Odorifera

See also. Narcotica; Mitigativa

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About This Reading Edition

The complete 706 historical definitions of the 1650 English dictionary, modernised and accompanied by expanded Diotimos commentary, reading routes, 15 textual notes and complete linked indexes.

Historical Text

A Chymicall Dictionary, London 1650, English version associated with John French, based on Gerhard Dorn’s Dictionarium Theophrasti Paracelsi. The containing volume also prints Sendivogius and Paracelsus; neither neighboring work changes this dictionary’s attribution.

About This Edition

Complete 706 definition paragraphs with new introduction, commentary, reading guides and indexes; Diotimos Editions, 2026.

Rights

The historical 1650 English text is in the public domain. New introduction, commentary, reading guides and indexes are © 2026 Diotimos Editions and published with the site owner’s authorization.