The Desert Fathers: Sayings of the Early Christian Monks - 4. Self-Control (5/7/70)

He said also that Arsenius only changed the water for his palm leaves once a year, otherwise he just added to it. He would make a plait of palm leaves and weave it till noon. The elders asked him why he would not change the water for the palm leaves, which was stinking. He said to them, 'When I was in the world I used incense and sweet-smelling ointments, so now I profit by this stink.'