Amor and Psyche

For our Halloween movie viewing this year, we watched the genre-eclectic 1700s period piece Perfume. In it, the killer is obsessed with scents, ultimately murdering young girls to cobble together the perfect perfume. But before he starts offing beauties, he proves his olfactory prowess by mixing a highly-sought-after Parisian fragrance called 'Amor and Psyche' - a mixture of orange blossom, lime, clove, musk, jasmine, alcohol, rosemary, roses, bergamot, and storax. Why not create a drinkable version?
The orange, lime, clove, rosemary, and alcohol are pretty common ingredients and we have rosewater for the roses. Storax is sweetgum and jasmine is used in marshmallow making here in the United States, so I subbed in agave syrup for its flavor. Bergamot orange has an orange-lemon flavor, slightly bitter, so I used Cointreau mixed with lemon and crushed rosemary, which sufficed. To rest your fears, I didn't use musk (animal parts) in the recipe! The end result is an aromatic, late summer draught, tasting sweet and sour with a long palate of rose and clove.

Amor and Psyche

Holly's Originals

2 1/2 ounces Cointreau

3/4 ounce fresh squeezed lemon juice

1/4 ounce lime-imparted agave syrup

5 drops rosewater, plus 1 for finish

2 small sprigs of rosemary

Ground clove

Spank a sprig of rosemary and place it in a small snifter. Shake Cointreau, lemon, agave syrup, rosewater, and second rosemary sprig. Double strain into a snifter. Top with one drop of rosewater and a sprinkle of ground clove.

To make the lime-imparted agave syrup, pour 1/4 ounce of agave syrup in a shot glass and just cover the top of the syrup with fresh squeezed lime juice. Mix.