M2-03 Peppery Plaster Surface

  • Image from RHS
  • Finished samples with different proportions
  • Sun dried red Sechuan pepper
  • Texture inside the sample
Submitted by Jieling Xiao, 2025

Creator

Jieling Xiao

Other Contributor 

Sarah King

Year

2024

License 

N/A

Description

Sechuan pepper is used in traditional medicine for Toothaches, Abdominal pains, Eczema, Stomach discomfort, Nausea, Diarrhea, and Ascariasis. It is documented in historical texts, the wall in the Pepper Chambers for empresses during the Han Dynasty in China (202 BC – 9 AD, 25–220 AD) was paved with mud mixed with grounded Sichuan pepper to scent the space, making the body feel warm by breathing in the peppery air. However, no clear information on the recipe and process. 

 

Scent Ingredients

Dried Sechuan peppercorns

Other materials

Water and Plaster Powder

Tools

Blender, Mixing Bowl, Stirrer, Pitot Tube, Silicon Moulds

 

Scent Characteristics

The key odourants in Red Sechuan pepper include linalool, α-terpineol,  β-myrcene, 1,8-cineol, limonene, and geraniol. Red Sichuan pepper has a unique and intoxicating aroma, described as lemony, perfumed and slightly woody with a warm and citrusy scent. The finished material has a noticeable scent, less lemony and aromatic, but, kept the warm and resinous scent. The scent might be intrusive for people who are not culturally associated. It will be useful to test the scent with users before applying.

The three samples with different proportions show less raw materials are needed to scent the plaster comparing to the rose-infused and leafy plaster samples.

Difficulty

Rating: 2.5 out of 5.

Process

The proportions of material used are for a single mould sized 8 x 3 x 3cm. Please adjust the proportions to fit the size of your mould.

  1. Grind the dried Sechuan peppercorns into fine powder with the Blender

  2. Add 30ml plaster powder into the bowl

  3. Add 5ml pepper powder into the bowl and add 20ml cold water to mix everything; 10ml pepper powder for the second sample; finally 15ml pepper powder for the third sample. Please make sure to clean the mixing bowl thoroughly after each mixing.

  4. Pour the mixture into the Silicone Mould

  5. Leave it to air-dry for 3 days

  6. Remove it from the mould and put it on a cooling rack to dry for another 7 days. 

Reference / Acknowledgement

This material recipe is developed by Jieling Xiao. The copywrite stays with the creator. If you wish to use or adapt please contact and cite the creator.

If you wish to know more information of the plant, please have a look at the RHS reference: https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/19196/zanthoxylum-simulans/details