Actually had some Dragons Blood brought back from France for me about 15 years ago. It was still readily available then. Not too sure about now. Also got some Logwood, Yellowood and Brazilwood extract, Alcanet Root, Cochineal, Alizarin, Cassels Extract and a few others, along with a heap of nasty chemicals that I've collected over the years that can kill you quickly or slowly and painfully but are fantastic for chemically ageing (dying) a wide range of timbers when used as or with a mordant.
Most were readily available here in Oz up until they started wrapping us up in cotton wool for our own protection some 15 - 20 years ago. Now it's just about takes an act of parliament to get potassium bichromate, or Candy's crystals (that used to be in every snake bite kit) and changed the water at many baths and fountains into a purple and created fun for generations of kids.
Ah the good ol days.
Ever wonder why there are so many recipes for waxes being bandied about and not made up and sold by enterprising young entrepreneurs. Probably has a lot to do with the fact that most really don't work all that well.
Don't get me started....... Sorry. Pet hobby horse of mine.
I started manufacturing Polishes because there was nothing on the market that came up to the high standard that I demanded for my work and that of my students. Just about tried em all. To top it off most people have no idea how to use wax properly that's why it's all soft gluggy stuff that's available instead of good solid wax blocks.
Cheers - Neil :)
PS If you make your own please use extreme care and don't set fire to anything that you shouldn't. Also be careful making DO with poly etc as most of it is quite toxic, carcinogenic and reasonably dangerous. DO NOT inhale fumes through a cigarette, don't laugh I've seen it done.In short when mucking around with making anything for yourself please for your own safety and that of others, exercise EXTREME CAUTION, or better still don't do it.
Don't sniff it to see what it smells like some stuff can just about drop a horse at 40 paces, especially when hot or mixed with other chemicals.
Not all chemicals and solvents, etc are compatible and some might just go boom, ignite or corrode.