Romeo and Juliet and the "Aqua Vitae"

Romeo and Juliet is one of the most well-known tragic works by Shakespeare. This poignant love story transcends the barriers of time and space, resonating with modern audiences. The play tells of a pair of young lovers caught in the feud between two rival families who, despite all obstacles, pursue their pure love—only to end in tragedy. Yet their untimely deaths ultimately bring about reconciliation between the two families. The play was quite popular in Shakespeare's era and, alongside Hamlet, became one of the most frequently performed of his works.

In Act III, Tybalt and Romeo quarrel over Juliet. During the conflict, an enraged Tybalt accidentally kills Romeo's dear friend Mercutio. Overwhelmed with grief and blinded by rage, Romeo seizes the dagger Tybalt had used and plunges it into Tybalt's heart. Romeo is subsequently banished, meaning he may never see his beloved again. When Juliet's nurse know about this news and relays it to Juliet, she said :

"No faith, no honesty in men. All perjured, All forsworn, all naught, all dissemblers. Ah, where's my man?—Give me some aqua vitae.— These griefs, these woes, these sorrows make me old." — The Nurse | Romeo and Juliet (Act III, Scene II)

"Drowning one's sorrows in drink" appears not to be unique to Chinese culture. Like the story of Romeo and Juliet itself, it represents a universal human pursuit through alcohol: a remedy to forget troubles, pain, and sorrow. After consuming liquors, one can return to a state of calm and gentleness, achieving a neutral emotional state.

The "Aqua Vitae" mentioned by the Nurse can be traced back to Roman times, originally referring to baptismal water and distilled products. In Shakespeare's era, the term Aqua Vitae encompassed nearly all types of spirits, often serving as "medicinal alcohol" or "tonic liquor." Today, the Chinese term "Water of Life" typically refers to highly concentrated rectified spirit vodka (Spirytus Rektyfikowany) with an alcohol content of up to 96%. Spirits with such high concentrations are classified as "neutral spirits" or "refined alcohol." Though the alcohol content is alarmingly high, they all fall within the category of "food-grade alcohol." Pure alcohol, due to its high volatility, has a pungent, intense, and distinctive aroma. Some describe the sensation upon consumption as "tasteless" or temporarily numbing the taste buds—the tingling sensation causes consumers to experience only the rush of alcohol, temporarily unable to perceive other flavors.

Alcohol is commonly found in skincare and cosmetic products, in beverages themselves, and in the alcohol sprays most frequently used during the pandemic. Alcohol is also an indispensable component of perfume. Yet if many people report allergic reactions to alcohol, why is it added to cosmetics and fragrances? The widespread application of alcohol stems from the fact that it is an excellent solvent. For perfumes that require flavor preservation, alcohol serves as an ideal organic solvent, capable of uniformly diluting fragrances and protecting the organic compounds within them, preventing oxidation and spoilage that would lead to deterioration and off-flavors. Additionally, alcohol's high volatility allows it to rapidly dissipate from fragrance molecules after uniform dilution, allowing the perfume to naturally diffuse without producing unpleasant odors, discoloration, or other side effects.

References: https://kknews.cc/fashion/mllxpj9.html

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