E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Frangipa’ni.
A powerful Roman family. So called from their benevolent distribution of bread during a famine.
1
Frangipani. A delicious perfume, made of spices, orris-root, and musk, in imitation of real Frangipani, Mutio Frangipani, the famous Italian botanist, visited the West Indies in 1493. The sailors perceived a delicious fragrance as they neared Antig’ua, and Mutio told them it proceeded from the Plume’ria Alba. The plant was re-named Frangipani, and the distilled essence received the same name.
