Logistically, it might be just too late for Santa to swoosh these under your Christmas tree, but I found out yesterday that Italian perfume house Pinalli has just started selling a range of perfumes and related products under the brand “Voynich Botanica 1-66“.
If you hadn’t already guessed (and I must admit it wasn’t immediately obvious to me), the “1-66” in the name actually refers to the folios of the Voynich Manuscript containing the first large herbal section (well… Herbal A and Herbal B, to be precise). Here’s what their fragrant PR flacks have to say about it (translated from the Italian):
Voynich is an advanced cosmetic brand that combines naturalness with high performance to bring to life formulations strictly free of Silicones, Parabens, Peg, Sles, Mineral Oils, Artificial Colors, with over 98% of natural ingredients. Voynich uses a scientific laboratory that for over 30 years has been studying, developing and producing cutting-edge formulas using the most advanced technologies and the highest quality standards.
The Voynich manuscript is an ancient illustrated code from the fifteenth century. Section I (folios 1-66) called “Botanica” contains countless illustrations of plants and flowers. Voynich products are inspired by the charm that surrounds this book, the passion for botanical research and respect for what Nature gives us.
So what do these look like? There are currently three to choose from:
You can even buy them all in a nice Christmas gift box:
Obviously they’re leaving the plants in the Pharma section for next year’s wave of products, and maybe the bathing nymphs of Q13 for a future spa range of shower and bath products. 😉
Well, they are what they are, I guess. But regardless, may Father Christmas fill your stockings with fine mysteries this year!
Will wonders ever cease?
I didn’t see that one coming. I guess they must have identified all the plants, someone check the ingredients of the perfume to work out what the plants are. It could be a fragrance made using new world plants and flowers, who knows?
What about a range of Voynich themed telescopes to fit with the zodiac and cosmological sections?
If the 9 rosette page really is a map then maybe there could be a Voynich/Medieval Map style “skin” for Google Maps, so not only the boring satelline, terrain etc. options.
What about a Voynich calligraphy set?
Or a Voynich themed secret code/game for kids(the code being greatly simplified of course) where they write each other secret messages?
There are lots of products that could fit in well with new age stuff and unscientific superstitious mysticism. What about Voynich inspired homeopathy cures?
And these are off the top of my head.
We have really got the wrong end of the stick, instead of trying to understand the Voynich we should be coming up with schemes to make money off the back of it.
Anyway I should probably get to my proper Voynich research!
Mark: Can we expect to the Nahuatl 1-99 knock-off fragrance some time soon?…
The pharma version will have to come in other flasks…
But beware with homemade Voynich bath products, the result is enormous. 🙂
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1950011131888198&set=gm.1360209814088816&type=3&theater&ifg=1
Rene: it would indeed be a shame not to use one of the many nice designs. 😉
Only now did I understand the hint 1-66.
It refers to the page f66r and the application below in the picture.
Just had to laugh, that’s what came back to my mind.
The Venus of Voynich
Beatles hairstyle, lady beard, hanging breast and beer belly.
I think there is no cream, because we need more of a grinder!
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=2187999644756011&set=gm.1873712699405189&type=3&theater&ifg=1
Cool! Just the Voynich epidemic. But I hope the VMs women fashion will remain there. 🙂
Cheers to the Pinalli people who must be the first to make any scents out of VM. If they can cream off their range of botanica potions, that’s fine too, though they would likely not be the first!..
Personally, I will wait for Voynich alphabet soup.
Voynich alphabet soup ?….
I would like to buy a vocal….:)
Hi Mr. Pelling,
We were delighted to find out that our cosmetic brand has been mentioned in your blog.
Actually, we felt almost embarrassed cause your knowledge and passion for the Voynich manuscript is so much bigger than ours.
Our team is working hard on this project: we have a big passion for cosmetics, nature and we are really fascinated by the history of the manuscript.
We will do our best to honor and respect the name of Voynich, hoping that this brand represents an opportunity to let the story of this fantastic book more and more known!
Thanks,
Best regards,