Faux Stardust

Faux stardust is an extremely rare material highly prized for its visual and olfactory beauty. Its scarcity makes it one of the most valuable materials in the Mirror Lakes. The Ancient Viri Emperors used to use it for home scenting their palaces.   In ancient times, faux stardust was thought to be actual stardust, and nobody was sure exactly where it came from--that knowledge died out in the Age of the Stars. However, during the Age of Salt and Stone, it was accidentally discovered to be ground from a rare, nondescript-looking mineral called estelitite. Grinding estelitite into powder releases the colours and scent.   While the origin of faux stardust is now known and more can be produced, the scarcity of estelitite means the dust didn't reduce a lot in value. It still remains a highly luxury item, costing more per pinch than the average family spend on food for a week. It's coveted not just for its rarity, though, but because of its qualities. Faux stardust glitters a delicate prism of colours that complements the colour of its surroundings. The smell is incomparable to any known substance; it's been described as "the lovliest vision in the world, but as a scent".   The use of faux stardust is now regulated for a number of reasons. Using minerals for home scenting is considered a health risk. Faux stardust can be processed into a perfume which has been judged to be safe in small quantities if only worn occasionally. Estelitite is found only very deep in the ground, and there are many risks attached to excavating it--both to the workforce and the environment--so legislation has been passed banning the intentional looking for it. Anybody who discovers estelitite cannot get it processed or valued without declaring where and how they found it and what they were doing at the location, and if there was no verifiable legitimate reason, they/their employers are considered to have been breaking the law. From a legal perspective, striking estelitite is a lucky break, not a pursuit.