Colour, smell and wider material change

colore; colorem; coloribus; odore; odorem; qualitate; proprietate; color; odor; qualitas

Colour and smell occur within a sequence of changes attributed to putrefaction, alongside property and quality.

From the book

Nine Books on the Nature of Things

Attributed to Paracelsus · Diotimos Editions · 2026

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Meaning

Colour and smell occur within a sequence of changes attributed to putrefaction, alongside property and quality. They are not merely decorative observations: later colour distinguishes metallic products and preservation, while smell marks corruption or retained freshness. The inclusive sequence gives transformation multiple dimensions. A changed colour alone therefore should not be treated as a complete explanation of altered essence, power or medicinal status.

Places to read

  1. Book 1 · Generation · Passage 1Latin“ab uno colore in alium, ab uno odore in alium”