In meicine, a tincture is an alcoholic extract (e.g. of a herb) or solution of a non-volatile substance; e.g. of iodine, mercurochrome ). To qualify as a tincture, the alcoholic extract is to have a ethanol percentage of at least 40-60% (sometimes a 90% percent pure liquid is even achieved). . Solutions of volatile substances were called spirits, although that name was also given to several other materials obtained by distillation, even when they did not include alcohol.