The Education of Women and The Vices of Men: Two Qajar Tracts

7. Of Bodily Cleanliness and the Use of Certain Perfumes

31 7 Of Bodily Cleanliness and the Use of Certain Perfumes Nothing is more unattractive in a woman than to make use of animal fat for her head, face, and hands. There is no point in smelling like a greasy cook. She should not touch grease, even when it is a cosmetic and made with one thousand kilos of rose water, for if it contains fat, it will be filthy. When somebody uses fat, she does not realize what kind of smell she gives off. Grease, wax, and oil were good enough for the late princes Vali and Shah Qoli Khan, who knew how to use it properly, but it is not good for one who wants to be the beloved of the husband. The wife should not listen to the stupid counsel of this or that lady and should not use any fat for her hair. It is most certain that fat does not increase the thickness of hair, but it makes it grow long. In all honesty , long hair, especially for those who have fine hair, is not good at all; fine hair looks like a pony’s tail. If it is hair that is thick, it is good; otherwise, long fine hair that is braided or thrown around the shoulders is not beautiful. It is better that she should cut her hair short if it is not very thick, and it will be much better that her hair falls around her face, and each strand of it will capture the heart. Don’t leave your tresses so uncurled Your beauty will create turbulence in the world.45 32 The Education of Women However, using perfume is very good. A woman should always scent her dresses; she should always use good-smelling powders and good scents to increase love and passion; it is better than any ornament. But [she should] not [do] like the Arabs, who put musk among their clothes, because musk gives one a headache. Using perfume and rose water is very good, provided that it does not create an allergy in the husband or provided he does not have a cold. In such a case, she should not use it at all. Dyeing your hair with henna is good. The smell of henna is sometimes pleasurable, but putting it on your hand is bad; especially after one day passes, its color becomes dirty. That is, some men enjoy it when the fingernails or tips are dyed with henna, whereas some don’t like it. Tastes are different. But in my view, nothing is better than natural colors for hands and feet. If the color red was good for them, God would have made them so. God has created a freshness in the color of the body of a woman and of her arms and legs, which in itself is beyond description. When that ravishing idol bares her legs and arms, I feel the muse of passion working her charms.46 Since God has created the color of your hands so beautifully , you should attend to them so that they stay clean, and definitely every day at least you should wash them with soap and water. The soap should be perfumed, not the bad smelling kind. She should not dirty her hands, and she should not touch the things that blacken the hands, even if it may be dust. She should keep her hands so tender that they are a nice place to imprint a kiss. They should not be in such a state that nobody Of Bodily Cleanliness and the Use of Certain Perfumes 33 will have the desire to look at them. She should at least put on silk gloves, even when she is sitting under the korsi. If her hands become dirty and untidy, it is obvious that the husband will not be inclined to touch her. But if they are beautiful and clean, then everybody will love to hold them and even eat them. If the Saki pours the wine with that tender hand, It will make all the saints eternal drunkards in the land.47 ...