Scents and Celescinas: Alchemical Women in Early Modern Spain

• Published in: Early modern women Vol. 15; no. 2; p. 113
• Main Author: Boyle, Margaret E
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chicago University of Chicago Press 01.04.2021
• Subjects: Chemistry; Criado-Perez, Caroline; Early modern period; Lope de Vega, Felix (1562-1635); Theater; Women
• ISSN: 1933-0065; 2378-4776

Spanish playwright Lope de Vega depicts the perfumer and traveling vendor Belarda as protagonist of his 1621 play El leal criado [The Loyal Servant], offering for his audiences a popular representation of women as "makers." It is significant to note that even in early print editions of the play Belarda's name is listed alongside her professional title of perfumer. While audiences primarily observe Belarda manufacturing or selling perfumes or other products capable of transforming the buyer and/or wearer as just one of many subplots of the comedia's frame, close study of this character within her historical context allows us to comment more broadly on Spanish women's engagement with "making" as tied to an array of contemporary chemical and alchemical practices, both literary and historical. This reading of alchemy and chemistry tied to making and transformation includes the production of cosmetics; medical, social, spiritual, and magical remedies; and the broad sphere of "kitchen chymistries," including the making of food.