| p>Calamus Root, (Acorus calamus) is also known as | | | | 1/2 part Cardamom |
| Calmus, Sedge, and Sweet Myrtle. It is a | | | | 1 part Cinnamon bark |
| wonderfully spicy, aromatic, and very cinnamon-like | | | | 1 part Myrrh |
| fragrance that has been enjoyed since at least The | | | | 1 part Lemon Grass |
| Epic of Gilgamesh where it is mentioned as an | | | | 1/2 part Rose leaves (dried rose buds) |
| incense ingredient. It is also referenced in the Bible as | | | | 1 part Benzoin of Siam |
| one of the ingredients of the anointing oil in Exodus | | | | 1 1/2 part Sandalwood |
| 30:23. The Egyptians used it for the Kyphi recipes | | | | Pinch of Aquillaria wood |
| as well. | | | | 1/2 part Honey |
| When reading a book about Medieval times I | | | | Tablespoon at a time of rich red wine |
| discovered that it was also called a "strewing herb" | | | | 8 parts Sultana raisins, unsulfured. |
| because people in those times, well, "strewed" it on | | | | Soak the raisins overnight in red wine and pulverize |
| their floors along with pennyroyal, and lavender to | | | | the frankincense, myrrh, mastic and benzoin with a |
| help with insect problems. I thought that was great | | | | mortar and pestle. Pulverize individually the |
| and would be a terrific thing in modern times except | | | | cinnamon, juniper berries, calmus, galangal, cardamom |
| for the fact that your floor would resemble that of a | | | | and sandalwood. Mix all the ingredients together and |
| roadhouse. Still, the next time I go camping I think I | | | | cut the lemongrass and crumble the rose buds. Use |
| will toss a little of it on the floor of the tent. It | | | | 1/2 teaspoon of aquillaria wood to 1 cup of this |
| might not control mosquitoes, but it will smell | | | | mixture. You can do without the aquillaria wood if it |
| wonderful. | | | | is not available to you. |
| Given that the scent is warm, spicy, woody and very | | | | Remove the raisins from the wine and blend |
| much reminiscent of cinnamon, it works very well | | | | everything together with a blender so that it is |
| with the following ingredients. Cedar, Myrrh, Patchouli, | | | | pulverized then use the honey to add to the mixture |
| Borneol Camphor and Benzoin. | | | | so that you get a dough-like substance that you can |
| Although complicated, here is a wonderful Kyphi | | | | knead well and easily. You can either crumble it in |
| recipe where Calmus is featured. | | | | your palms and allow it to dry (turning it often over 7 |
| 4 parts Frankincense | | | | to 14 days) or you can roll it into pea-sized pellets as |
| 2 parts Mastic | | | | the Egyptians preferred and allow to dry as above. |
| 1/2 part Juniper berries | | | | Congratulations, it is one of the more complex and |
| 1/4 part Calmus | | | | difficult recipes from antiquity but one that is well |
| 1/4 part Galangal | | | | worth the effort. |