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Stink weed

SeverinR

Vala
In one book, I introduced Ochre weed, it is basically a very sappy weed which the sap is very odorous.
It grows together, expanding year by year.

It is used in making perfume so it is not all destroyed, but towns and cities prefer it not be nearby. (Down wind is terrible)
The only way to get rid of it is to burn it, and the sap is not overly flammable.

The sap is sticky and doesn't lose its scent very quickly.

The MC flees into the middle of a large patch to hide from slavers. Horses will not enter it, as they lose their sense of smell, and the patch is fairly thick, so they can't see if something is hiding in it.

When she is able to leave, she washes in a nearby creek, using mud to scrub the sap off.
She must find new clothes, as the scent does not leave the fabric.

What else can I use for her to get rid of the smell?
I don't think a tomato juice bath would be possible in the poverty stricken region of Medieval times.
 
I'm not sure what your world-build looks like, but if there's anything in the way of citrus fruits (trees) nearby, that would work. Otherwise, how about crushing a handful of flowers and rubbing yourself down with it? That might work better for the setting.
 

Queshire

Istar
Hmm.... well, you said it was used to make perfume yes? Maybe there's some way to change the scent from bad to good instead of getting rid of it?
 

Caged Maiden

Staff
Article Team
vinegar. Look up vinegar of the four thieves. That's a good recipe and very common. It utilizes herbs and is probably avilable in a cottage pantry.
 
I don't think a tomato juice bath would be possible in the poverty stricken region of Medieval times.

Think of something similar, using available engredients. This can't be the first time someone ended up covered in ochre weed, especially if people actually harvest and process it. The people of your world would have figured out some kind of folk remedy that works okay.

Anihows suggestion about vinegar sounds like a good place to start.
 

SeverinR

Vala
The MC has nothing with her, she meets an elf that knows the woods and gives her something to wash with, but I don't specify what it is.
Vinegar might be easier to get then tomato juice. But how much would be needed? many gallons?

The scent is so strong, if she stays in the area, no dog could find her scent, but if she leaves the area, no human could miss it.

The perfume aspect is a good way to find the remedy. Might look into perfume history for the answer. Counteracting, rather then bathing sounds more efficient.

For the harvesters, I would think they would be like pig farmers and tanners, not well accepted in the city, unless they really bathed well. But for special occasions a remedy to get the smell out of the pores of the skin would be nice to have.

--you gotta have brains to be a tanner or is it; It takes brains to tan leather? :)
 
For the harvesters, I would think they would be like pig farmers and tanners, not well accepted in the city, unless they really bathed well. But for special occasions a remedy to get the smell out of the pores of the skin would be nice to have.

--you gotta have brains to be a tanner or is it; It takes brains to tan leather? :)

I have some experience with tanning. You actually only smell genuinely bad at the start of the process, while you're working with semi-putrified hides to remove hair and fur. Later during the actual tanning you just smell kinda weird. Vegetable tannin solutions have a distinct smell, but it's far from unbearable. In fact, it's a great way to get rid of the putrification smell.

Never did use brains. I think it's mainly used for furs and pelts, rather then leather.
 

gavintonks

Maester
only smell I know horses to avoid is human sewerage, you stop smelling smell after a while as it is a volatile oil, so the smell will reduce and of course it reacts with sweat and changes.
tea helps to fix a smell like tanin, so if she washed her clothes in a tanin mix, it would set the smell and it would wear off more quickly
carbolic would also help, but then she would need some with her and of course boiling so have a hot spring nearby
I must admit I am wondering a bit here that the process is becoming more focused than the story, she has run away and hidden successfully, she would not be the only person to fall into this odious bush and a few children and citizens are walking about so they piss off the towns people. The props to your story are getting high prominance
 

gavintonks

Maester
rubbing herself in compost which has a high bacterial and enzyme content would also nullify the smell after which she could bathe normally to get rid of the mud, her clothes of course would be heavily stained
 

SeverinR

Vala
I have some experience with tanning. You actually only smell genuinely bad at the start of the process, while you're working with semi-putrified hides to remove hair and fur. Later during the actual tanning you just smell kinda weird. Vegetable tannin solutions have a distinct smell, but it's far from unbearable. In fact, it's a great way to get rid of the putrification smell.

Never did use brains. I think it's mainly used for furs and pelts, rather then leather.

I guess this is the part that is the smelliest.

"Take the brains and cook them in a little water. Squish and squeeze them with your hands (wear gloves) to mash it well. When the brain soup is almost to hot for you to touch, rub it into the hide using your hands and smooth round stones that have been heated. Start by rubbing the mixture into the skin side of the hide and then into the hair side (skip this side if you are making a fur.) Use all of the mixture including any “broth” left in the pot. Leave the hide alone and out of the sun for 6 to 8 hours before continuing."
Tanning Leather
Brains can be used for both leather and pelts.

"Leather was vital in Victorian times and Tanners were highly skilled workers, but they were forced to live on the fringes of society because of the terrible stink that went with the job."
What was a medieval tanner
 
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