The pomander was worn or carried in a case as a protection against infection in times of pestilence or merely as a useful article to modify bad smells The meaning of pomander is a mixture of aromatic substances enclosed in a perforated bag or box and used to scent clothes and linens or formerly carried as a guard against infection Pomanders were not just a means to combat the plague They were also deeply symbolic and carried mystical significance Many believed that carrying a pomander could protect them from evil spirits, illness, and bad luck They were often worn as amulets or hung on chains as pendants.
“ pomme ” meaning “apple” (a popular term used to describe round objects) and “ ambre “, meaning “amber” invoking the color of the ambergris So pomander roughly translates to “apple of amber”. What exactly was a pomander The word “pomander” comes from the french pomme d’ambre, literally “apple of amber,” hinting at both its shape and the fragrant resins once tucked inside Pomander, small metal (sometimes china) container designed to hold a ball of aromatic spices or herbs Worn suspended from neck or girdle or attached to the finger by a ring, it was believed to be a protection against infections and noxious smells.
The name comes from the french word pomme d'ambre which translates to apple of amber The amber referred to ambergris, which diffused a pleasant smell when worn. A mixture of aromatic substances, often in the form of a ball, formerly carried on the person as a supposed guard against infection but now placed in closets, dressers, etc. The term pomander can be for the actual scented material itself or for the container that contains the scented material She wears a pedimental head dress and lappets, gown, ornamented girdle, with dependant pomander Pomander can be a bag containing fragrant herbs.
A pomander is a mix of herbs, spices and ambergris, or musk The ingredients were mixed together and rolled into a fragrant ball However, it wasn’t very convenient to carry around a tiny, sticky ball of herbs, so a small decorative container that could be worn was made to tote the fragrance around The container was also called a pomander.
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