The eau de cologne that reminded [poet and composer Constantijn] Huygens of his mother is flowery but spicy too, with ingredients such as rose, lavender, thyme, marjoram, clove and cinnamon. It's a different scent from today's perfumes. It has a bit more oomph. "It's a nice scent," says reader in English literature Nadine Akkerman, who is studying correspondence networks and knowledge exchange for the project. The eau de cologne is meant to be sprayed around the house rather than used as a perfume.

— Read more in Researchers recreate 17th-century perfume by Constantijn Huygens at Phys.org. (And there is a lovely presentation of the project here.)