Eleven
Oils for Mental,
Emotional, and
Spiritual Matters
Magickal oils are primarily used to concentrate the powers of an herb, flower, tree, or root. The greatest value of oils is that they retain the full scent of the plant.
In all traditions, oil is a symbol of the element of Fire. The oils capture, draw out, and store the essential nature of herbs and flowers, basic energies that the old wise ones called the “fiery being.”
Oil magick works through vibrations and scent, primarily on the mind, emotions, and spirit—the other layers of our physical body we tend to overlook most of the time. The vibratory rate of an herb, oil, or incense determines whether it is positive or negative, and the degree thereof. All herbal and oil magick works through vibrations. Scents trigger various centers in the brain and bring them into dominance. Thus, lilac oil stimulates the psychic center and helps develop clairvoyant powers. Other centers include the intellectual, spiritual, and so on.
Since the magickal power of perfumes and oils lies in the scent, good synthetic substitutes can be just as powerful as the real thing. Avoid any oils that evolve through animals. The same applies to illegal ivory or animal products.
Acacia: Possessing high spiritual vibrations, this oil is worn to aid meditation and to develop psychic powers. It aids in prayer, atonement, and divination.
Allspice: Enhances the psychic powers and gives added determination and energy.
Almond: Sweet almond oil, the symbol of wakefulness to the ancient Egyptians, is used in rituals (anointing candles, money, etc.) and also added to money incenses. A good carrier oil.
Ambergris: This comes from whales, so buy the synthetic type. Resonates with the highest spiritual energy and promotes the purest love. Clary sage resembles ambergris.
Angelica: May be used to promote the proper atmosphere for meditation, spells, and prayer work. Worn on the self, it protects from evil influences. It is ruled by the Sun, and raises one’s own vibrations when worn.
Anise: A boon to clairvoyance, it stimulates the psychic centers and helps in love affairs.
Apple Blossom: Wear to promote happiness and success. Anoint candles during love rituals.
Basil: Creates harmony on all levels.
Bay: A very powerful scent, useful for protection, meditation, visions, divination, exorcism, purification, and power in general.
Bayberry: Can be used for protection and psychic receptivity. Anoint green candles for prosperity in the home. My grandmother loved to have bayberry candles out when family was traveling during the holidays.
Benzoin: Brings peace of mind. However, if burned on incense charcoal, it will make billowing clouds of smoke.
Bergamot: Induces rest and peaceful sleep. Use in protective spells and for drawing prosperity.
Birch: New beginnings. Birch leaf oil is used to anoint special love candles that are burned to protect one’s lover and to smooth over romantic difficulties.
Camphor: Wear a drop to strengthen psychic powers. Also anoint yourself when you have decided to break off with a lover, or when they have done so with you and you find it hard to let go.
Carnation: A good power oil. It is stimulating, energy-promoting, and an aid in healing. Wear when extra energy is needed for a spell.
Cedar Leaf (Thuja) or Cedar Wood: These are both oils of Jupiter, and consequently promote peace, contentment, wealth, and good fortune, in addition to driving away all evil and negativity. These oils are believed to attract good spirits and repel bad ones.
Cherry Blossom: Brings peace, harmony, happiness, relaxation, wealth, and good fortune. It is especially good against loneliness.
Cinnamon: A high vibration oil, used for personal protection. Added to any incense, it increases its powers. Mixed with powdered sandalwood, it makes an incense suitable for all religious or spiritual magick. Ruled by the Sun, it is excellent for clairvoyance, healing, wealth, problem solving, meditations, and protection.
Cinquefoil: Protective, strengthens the five senses. Since it also represents the “five lucks” (love, money, health, power, and wisdom), it is often used to anoint amulets and charm bags.
Clove: Good for driving away disease and evil influences.
Coriander: A love oil used to anoint candles.
Cumin Seed: This brings peace and harmony to the home. Anoint all doorways once a week just before sunrise when the household is asleep, and all is quiet.
Cyclamen: Worn to ease childbirth by the expectant mother. Also used in love and marriage spells.
Cypress: An oil of Saturn, it vibrates on a high plane, as all oils of Saturn do. An oil of blessing, consecration, and protection, it brings peace and relaxation, controlling the self-willed. It is a symbol of the Earth element, as well as of death. It also effectively screens out the negative vibrations of funeral mourners. Wear on Halloween (Samhain) to become aware and remember those who have passed on.
Eucalyptus: A healing oil that is very useful in recuperation after a long illness. Burned in an aromatherapy burner, it has the power to purify the air and cut down on colds during the winter season.
Fir: Promotes peace and contentment.
Frangipani: Erotic.
Frankincense: One of the most powerful and sacred of all oils, it is a strong purifier for exorcisms, purification, blessings, meditation, and visions. It vibrates with the highest energy of the Sun and affords great psychic protection.
Gardenia: A highly magnetic oil, excellent for protection and to attract love. It calms and promotes feelings of pure love, as well as being especially good for mental problems.
Ginger: A tropical aphrodisiac that induces passion.
Heliotrope: High spiritual vibrations, drenched with the energies of the Sun. Promotes peace and harmony; aids in clairvoyance, meditation, and psychic development.
High John the Conquer: Use for power, courage, justice. It is a good oil to wear into court.
Honeysuckle: Stimulates the mind and creativity. Also use in love and prosperity spells.
Hyacinth: A very restful vibration. When worn, it gives peace and rest from anxiety. In a sachet bag under your pillow, it promotes sleep as well as psychic dreams.
Hyssop: Increases finances. Added to the bath, it creates a purifying atmosphere.
Jasmine: A purely spiritual oil. This is a lunar oil, a symbol of the Moon, and of the mysteries of the night. It has many occult properties. Use to anoint yourself, candles, and so on. Gives psychic protection, balance, peace, sleep, eases childbirth, and will help attract and hold a lover. Also good for meditation, prayer, psychic sensitivity, and astral projection.
Lavender: Mercury rules this oil, and it can be used to anoint yourself, sacred objects, and many other things. It is a cleansing and purifying oil, so it is good for exorcisms, purification, good health, restful sleep, and peace. A good oil for an aromatherapy burner.
Lemon: Attracts love. Also makes a good room deodorizer.
Lemongrass: An aid to the psychic powers. Will help make contact with spirits.
Lilac: Induces Far Memory, the act of recalling past lives. Is useful in inducing clairvoyant powers in general. Brings peace and harmony. Stimulates mental and creative powers.
Lily of the Valley: This oil is sacred to the Great Goddess, and when worn is soothing to the nerves. The peace it gives is both spiritual and emotional, and it brings the highest of blessings.
Linaloe: An energetic vibration enhancer, it also promotes good health and vitality.
Lotus: The most sacred oil of the ancient Egyptians. A powerful oil, it is sacred to the Moon, the goddess Isis, and magick. It can be worn on the self or used to anoint sacred objects. Good for psychic protection, happiness, good health, fertility, good fortune, peace, harmony, and blessings. It is most beneficial for astral projection and visions. This oil has a high spiritual vibration.
Magnolia: An excellent oil for meditation and psychic development, it also brings peace and harmony.
Melilot: Fights depression, or what was once called melancholy.
Mimosa: Used in healing spells, but also can produce prophetic dreams.
Mint: A very magnetic scent for attracting money and good fortune. Use it to anoint you wallet or purse. Use in prosperity spells, and to increase one’s business.
Musk: The universally accepted “sex scent,” a magnetic oil worn with equal success by both sexes. This is another animal scent, so use synthetic substitutes. This oil also can be used for courage, determination, and energy.
Myrrh: A very sacred oil with high spiritual vibrations, myrrh is ruled by Saturn and the Great Goddess. It gives powerful protection and is one of the best scents for use in exorcisms, purification, meditation, prayer, and healing. Sweet Cicely smells similar.
Myrtle: Sacred to Venus, this oil has vibrations of love when used in small amounts.
Narcissus: A narcotic type of oil, it is often called the perfume of Persephone. It aids in achieving good health and a harmonious relaxed outlook. It promotes sleep and trance states and can be used for protection.
Neroli: A magnetic women’s oil, it can be rubbed between the breasts to attract men. See Orange Blossom.
Nutmeg: A bit of this oil on your temples and third eye aids in meditation and prayer. It also promotes sleep.
Orange: Both bitter and sweet orange oils are conducive to finding peace and balanced emotions.
Orange Blossom: Also called Neroli. This oil vibrates with the energy of love and attraction and is reputed to induce proposals of marriage.
Orris Root: Aids concentration, creativity, strengthens determination and desire. Sometimes called “iris.”
Patchouli: A very powerful Eastern occult oil. It is magnetically erotic but also can be used for a peaceful separation. Put some on your doors to keep unwanted people away. Wards off negativity and evil, and gives peace of mind.
Peony: A lucky scent for all who need customers, success in business, or good fortune.
Peppermint: Use to create changes within one’s life. Also used to relax and allow one to unwind.
Pine: Purifying and deodorizing, this is an oil of Mars. Also excellent for exorcism and defense.
Rose: This is one of the most sacred and powerful of perfumes. It is an oil of Venus that promotes love, beauty, artistic creativity, health, peace, and balance while dispelling anger. Used in all love spells and can be added to baths.
Rose Geranium: Affords psychic protection, and is often used to exorcise and protect a new home by anointing the doors and windowsills. It affords good health, dispels fear, and promotes courage.
Rosemary: One of the most powerful herbs of protection and exorcism. It can be put on the doors and windowsills to purify and bless a house. It attracts peace, health, prudence, common sense, determination, willpower, and courage. Aids psychic development, helps with prophetic dreams, and protects against nightmares. Can also be used in healing spells.
Rue: Can break up negativity and curses. Add nine drops of this oil to the bath every night for nine nights in succession during the waning Moon to break a spell that has been cast against you. Soak any found magickal image or poppet with this oil and burn the object to break a spell.
Sandalwood: Another very powerful, spiritual fragrance from the East. Raises one’s vibrations. Ruled by Mercury and promotes good health, meditation, visions, and protection. It is said to aid in opening the doors to past incarnations.
Sesame: Gives hope to one who is sick, discouraged, or lonely.
Spikenard: Wear during rituals for the ancient deities of Egypt.
Stephanotis: A good oil for the psychic as it aids the will and promotes determination. Also attracts love in a powerful way.
Strawberry: Aids in the acquisition of wealth and good fortune.
Styrax: An oil of Mercury, this oil vibrates on a high plane.
Tuberose: Mistress of the Night, as it is also known, is an excellent aphrodisiac. Promotes peace and also aids in psychic powers. Very much a physical oil.
Vanilla: A vitalizing oil, said to be sexually arousing in women. Use as an energy restorer. Also used to gain extra power during spell work.
Vervain: A very magickal herb used by the Celts for protection and love. Also use to attract material good fortune, to stimulate the mind and intellectual creativity, as well as for exorcism, purification, and general attraction.
Violet: Said to be sacred to the Fairy Queen. Very healing when added to baths. It is another protective perfume, wards off evil, promotes good health, and aids in achieving peace, especially in marital problems. It can also promote reunions and break down the barriers of indifference. Attracts wealth and good fortune.
Wisteria: This oil is a bridge to the higher planes and unlocks the door to the spirit world; the door between the world of men and the realms of the deities, the passport to higher consciousness. It is therefore a very powerful aid to any kind of divination, illumination, astral projection, spirit journeys, or psychic work. It greatly enhances the results of meditation. Wear only when in complete serenity.
Ylang-Ylang: Sometimes call “flower of flowers.” Attracts the opposite sex and love. Also soothes the problems of married life. It can help in finding a job by making you calmer and more impressive.
Scent Groups
Intoxicating: Fragrance of flowers (especially narcissus) and balsams; sweet mellow odors; soft quality; relaxing
Non-sexual or Refreshing: Green residue fragrances of saps and leaves of plants, camphor, pine, some mints, citrus oils; healthy clean wake-up quality
Sexually Stimulating: Animal odors, costus root, ambrette seed; slightly rancid-smelling; low and dark quality.
Spicy and Bitter: Seeds, roots, stalks, some leaves. Mosses and woods fall halfway into this category. Some, like santal, share some floral overtones. Businesslike activating quality.
Fixatives: Orris root, oakmoss, reindeer moss, storax, balsam of Peru, balsam of Tolu, benzoin, frankincense, myrrh, musk, ambergris, civet (synthetic only), castorum, costus root, ambrette seed, calamus root, clary sage
Spicy Scents
Allspice berries (also known as pimiento or Jamaica pepper); smells like a mixture of cloves, nutmeg, and cinnamon
Cassia wood, beads, or oil
Cinnamon bark or oil
Cloves
Cubeba (smells a little like mace)
Galangal oil (sweet spicy fragrance; the root itself doesn’t have much scent)
Ginger root or oil
Mace blades
Nigella seeds (warm, spicy smell)
Nutmeg
Nutmeg geranium leaves
Sweet and Floral Scents
Acacia flowers
Ambergris oil
Apple blossom oil
Apple mint leaves
Bois de rose oil
Cactus flowers or oil
Calamus root or oil
Campernella oil (smells like jonquil)
Cardamom pods or oil (very aromatic when crushed)
Carnation flowers or oil
Champac oil (a variety of marigold)
Cherry blossom oil
Clove pink flowers or oil
Clover flower oil
Coriander seeds (pungently sweet when crushed)
Frangipani oil
Gardenia oil
Geranium leaves or oil
Guaiac wood oil (rose-like fragrance)
Heliotrope oil (like a mixture of anise, almond, and vanilla)
Honeysuckle flowers or oil
Hyacinth flowers or oil
Jasmine flowers or oil
Lavender flowers or oil
Lily flowers or oil
Lily of the Valley flowers or oil
Linden flowers (Tilia europaea, also known as lime flowers)
Lotus flowers or oil
Magnolia flowers or oil
Mignonette flowers (Reseda odorata)
Mimosa flowers or oil
Narcissus flowers or oil (also known as jonquil)
Neroli oil
Neroli petal oil
Nicotiana (tobacco) flowers or oil
Orange mint leaves
Orris root or oil
Palmarosa oil (geranium-like fragrance)
Peach blossom oil
Pineapple mint leaves (very good in sachets)
Raspberry leaves or oil (mildly fragrant leaves)
Rosebuds, petals, or oil
Rose geranium leaves (an excellent substitute for rose buds, in some case even more fragrant)
Rosemary leaves or oil
Spike lavender flowers or oil
Strawberry oil
Stephanotis flowers or oil
Sweetbriar leaves
Sweet pea flowers or oil
Syringa oil
Tuberose oil
Tulip flowers or oil
Violet leaves or oil
Wallflower (Erysimum spp.) flowers or oil
Wisteria flowers or oil
Yarrow flowers
Ylang-Ylang flowers or oil (very powerful and exotic)
Yucca flowers
Citrus Scents
Balm leaves
Bergamot leaves or oil
Bigarade (bitter or Seville orange peel) oil
Citronella oil
Gas plant (fraxinella, Dictamnus albus) leaves
Grapefruit leaves, peel, or flowers
Lemongrass
Lemon leaves, peel, or flowers
Lemon oil (extracted from the peel)
Lemon-scented geranium leaves
Lemon verbena leaves
Lime leaves, peel, or flowers (Citrus acida)
Lime oil (extracted from the peel)
Orange leave, peel, or flowers
Orange oil (extracted from the peel)
Petitgrain, oil of (orange leaf oil)
Portugal, oil of (sweet orange peel oil)
Tangerine leaves, peel, flowers
Herby Scents
Angelica root or oil
Anise leaves, seeds, or oil.
Basil leaves or oil (clove-like fragrance)
Calamint leaves
Costmary leaves (mixture of mind and chrysanthemum fragrance)
Dill seed or oil
Dittany of Crete leaves (a little like the smell of dried marjoram)
Fennel seeds or oil
Marjoram leaves or oil (this oil is much more fragrant than the dried leaves)
Oregano leaves or oil
Pennyroyal leaves or oil (somewhere in between peppermint and vanilla)
Peppermint-scented geranium leaves
Peppermint leaves or oil
Perilla leaves (anise-like fragrance)
Sage leaves or oil
Spearmint leaves or oil
Sweet Cicely leaves, seeds or oil (a myrrh-like fragrance)
Tansy leaves
Thyme leaves or oil
Wintergreen leaves or oil
Woodruff leaves (smells like freshly mown hay)
Woodsy Scents
Acacia wood and oil (needs reinforcing by other fragrances)
Almond (sweet) oil
Ambrette seeds (also known as amber and musk seed)
Ambrosia (also known as cheopdium or wormseed; smells a little like eucalyptus)
Balm of Gilead (poplar bush; very sweet, mellow scent)
Bayberry bark or oil
Bay leaves or oil
Birch bark or oil
Brazilwood (nothing really exciting)
Cajeput oil (smells like a delicious combination of rosemary, camphor, and cardamom)
Cascarrilla bark
Cedarwood chips, leaves, or oil
Civet oil or tincture (buy synthetic)
Clary sage leaves or oil (smells like balsam of Tolu)
Deer’s tongue leaves (strong, vanilla-like fragrance)
Eucalyptus leaves or oil
Frankincense gum or oil
Juniper oil
Labdanum leaves
Mastic gum (must be combined with an oil)
Melilot flowers (smells like tonka or woodruff)
Musk oil or tincture (buy synthetic)
Musk-scented geranium leaves
Myrtle leaves (faint eucalyptus fragrance)
Oakmoss (very woodsy)
Pine needles or oil
Rhodium oil (wood of Rhodes oil)
Sandalwood rasping or oil (white or yellow; red is a different wood altogether)
Sassafras wood or oil (spicy and woodsy)
Spruce oil
Sumbul root (also known as musk root; delightful musky scent)
Sweet fern (woodsy)
Thus gum (spruce or pine resin; must be combined with an oil)
Tonka beans (vanilla-like aroma)
Vanilla pods or essence
Vetiver (fabulous fragrance like myrrh and sandalwood)
Wormseed—See Ambrosia
Bitter or Pungent Scents
Almond oil, bitter
Caraway seeds or oil
Catnip leaves or oil
Cotton lavender leaves
Cypress leaves, roots or oil
Galbanum, gum (must be combined with an oil)
Hyssop leaves or oil (the oil is more fragrant than the dried leaf)
Life everlasting leaves
Myrrh, gum (must be combined with an oil)
Patchouli leaves or oil (a gorgeous earthy fragrance)
Rue leaves or oil (use carefully)
Santolina leaves (another variety of lavender cotton)
Southernwood leaves (bitter, lemony smell)
Wormwood leaves or oil (bitter)
Fixatives for Sachets and Potpourris
(The general formula for sachets and potpourris is one ounce fixative to every two quarts of herbs)
Ambergris oil or tincture
Balsam of Peru (extremely useful; particularly good for heliotrope, linden, and lotus)
Balsam of Tolu (extremely useful, especially with ambrette, acacia, champak, honeysuckle, magnolia, wall flower, any dry potpourris)
Benzoin gum
Calamus root or oil
Castoreum (smells like Russian leather; buy synthetic)
Cedarwood chips or oil (use sparingly, as it is very powerful)
Civet oil or tincture (buy synthetic)
Clary sage
Lemon peel
Mastic gum
Musk oil or tincture (buy synthetic)
Opopanax gum
Orange peel
Orris root
Patchouli leaves
Sandalwood (useful for any rose mixture)
Sandac gum
Storax gum (also known as stacte)
Sumbul root
Tangerine peel
Thus gum (both spruce and pine resin go by this name now; frankincense used to have another name)
Useful Incense Gums
A gum is water-soluble, a resin is not. Resins and balsams (known as oleo-resins, half essential oil and half resin) burn with a smoky flame and give off their essential oil when heated. Consequently, for the best effect they have to be fumed rather than burned. Resins are the chief ingredients of the incenses of the Catholic and orthodox churches. The most widely used are frankincense, with myrrh, benzoin, and galbanum added in lesser amounts, depending on the grade of incense involved. The best grade, often called “high altar” incense, is generally pure frankincense alone.
Balsam of Peru (sweet smelling)
Balsam of Tolu (sweet smelling)
Bdellium, gum (an inferior type of myrrh; bitter)
Benzoin gum (very aromatic; there are two varieties: Sumatra, sweet and rather like storax, and Siamese, which has a vanilla-like fragrance
Camphor, gum (cold and spicy)
Dragon’s blood resin (Calamus draco; sweetly pungent)
Frankincense gum or olibanum (a little like lavender; exquisite aroma)
Galbanum gum (gorgeously bittersweet)
Mastic gum (a sharp, light aroma)
Myrrh gum (bitter and mysterious)
Sandarac gum (cedar-like)
Storax gum, or stacte (cloyingly sweet)
Thus gum (piney)