Aqua mirabilis
The Latin term aqua mirabilis (German: Wunderwasser , French: Eau admirable, Italian: Acqua mirabile ) is a general and collective term that has been used for at least 500 years for water with a wide variety of ingredients.
Since the 17th century, this term has been used increasingly for alcoholic waters that are used as medicinal, cosmetic or perfuming agents. It is a kind of collective name, not a designation for waters of known and constant composition.
Under the name “Aqua mirabilis” there is a large number of recipes that differ in their composition.
Initial records regarding Aqua Mirabilis can be found in the following sources, among others:
- “A deliciously precious treasure” Philliatri anno 1555 Zurich
- Timotheo Rosselo: Della summa de secreti universali in ogni materia. Venetia 1580
- Aqua mirabilis by Arnoldus Villanovanus in Arnoldi Villanovani: Philosophi et Medici summi opera omnia. Basileae 1585
- Philipus Hermanni: En Constrich Distillierboeck, Utrecht 1596
- Aqua mirabilis Langii in Pharmacopoea Augustana, jussu et auctoritata Amplissimi Senatus. Augustae Vindellicorum 1622
- Aqua mirabilis on page 309 in Homelies qvadragesimales by Jean-Pierre Camus 1636
- Aqua mirabilis on page 770 in Histoire des plantes de l'Evrope, et des plvs vsitées qvi viennent d'Asie, d'Afrique et de l'Amérique: le tovt rangé selon l'ordre dv Pinax de Gaspard Bavhin, by Nicolas Deville 1670
- Aqua mirabilis on page 168 in Dictionnaire pharmaceutique ou apparat de médecine, pharmacie et chymie, author: Dr. M. de Meuve, Lyon 1695
An additional designation turned the general term into a clearly defined product. It was only through the addition of a name that it became a brand (such as Aqua mirabilis Langii, Aqua mirabilis Farina ).
This generic term is therefore a generic term for all alcoholic and non-alcoholic water, the medical waters such as Melissengeist, rubbing alcohol , on homeopathic tinctures to Eau de Cologne ( cologne de), Eau perfume, perfume , aftershave rich and face lotions.