pomanders

Noun

pomander (countable and uncountable, plural pomanders)

1. (historical) A mixture of aromatic substances, made into a ball and carried by a person to impart a sweet smell or as a protection against infection.
   • Take red Storar, Nutmegs, Cucubes, Cloues, Nardus ſeed, Lignum Aloes, Indy Spica, and Cinamom, of each one drag. Muſcus and Amber of each one ſcruple, Landanum one ounce, make a Pomander thereof, like as there be many deſcribed in the ſixt part, and is alſo taught how the ſame is to be made.1605, Christopher Wirtzung, “Of the Nose”, in Iacob Mosan, transl., The General Practise of Physicke: […], London: Impensis Georg[e] Bishop, →OCLC, § 8 (Enfeebled or Lost Smelling), page 102
2. (countable, historical) A small case in which an aromatic ball was carried.
   • Colonel Johnson was talking to her earnestly, leaning over the card-table. On seeing Miss Harrison's gesture he rose suddenly, and attached to the ribbon of his watch was my godmother's silver pomander.1872 July, “My Godmother’s Pomander”, in Harper's New Monthly Magazine, volume XLV, number CCLXVI, New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers, publishers, […], →OCLC, page 213, column 1
3. (countable) A perforated container filled with pot-pourri for placing in a drawer, wardrobe, room, etc., to provide a sweet smell.
4. (countable) An apple or orange studded with cloves used for the same purpose.
   • Sir Thomas Gresham, in his celebrated portrait by Sir Antonio More, holds in his left hand a small object resembling an orange, but is a pomander. This sometimes consisted of a dried Seville orange, stuffed with cloves and other spices; and being esteemed a fashionable preservative against...1864, “February 23. [Scent-balls and Pomanders.]”, in R[obert] Chambers, editor, The Book of Days: A Miscellany of Popular Antiquities in Connection with the Calendar: […] In Two Vols., volume I...