I hope this sojourn into aromatic alchemy and the world of scent has provided you with knowledge and inspiration. As we have seen, the use of perfumery has been an integral part of spiritual and magical practices since the earliest civilizations. People long ago discovered that the green world provided more than food—it also gifted humans with amazing flavors and aromas. These simple aspects of plants not only enrich everyday life but also touch our souls. We also took a look at alchemy and learned that it was more than the notion of using wizardry to transmute metals. In the past, a great deal of alchemy was focused on the medicinal and spiritual uses of plants. Dealing with plants and the soul, aromatic alchemy can bring the power of the green world to our spiritual and magical practices.
With the ability to bring memories and past feelings to the forefront, scent is an ally for accessing other realms. It supports psychic work on so many levels and provides access to something beyond ourselves that results in more meaningful magic and ritual. Scent also offers a bridge between these practices and mundane activities, helping us to integrate all parts of the self. It helps us bring that special part of who we are in ritual out into the world, making us whole and in many cases healing us as well.
As I mentioned at the beginning of this book, I like to know the how and why of what I’m doing. I want to understand things, which is why we started by learning the difference between an essential oil and other aromatic extracts. Examining how oils are produced helps us make informed decisions about which products we want to use. In addition, knowing the nitty-gritty of measuring, mixing, and assessing oil blends provides us with the fundamental basics that we can build on.
While there are no hard and fast rules for blending scents, we looked at some of the guidelines to help us choose and experiment wisely. Understanding the importance of botanical names and becoming familiar with their meaning helps us identify the exact oil that we want. In the botanical family selection method, we learned how oils from related plants tend to blend nicely together. This also gave us a peek at the interconnected relationships of some plants. While this selection method results in a smaller number of oils from which to choose, it helps us learn how using indirect magical associations can strengthen and support our core intentions.
The scent group method for creating oil blends gave us another perspective on the relationships between plants. We also learned about the various ways scents have been categorized. From the four groups relating to olfactory nerves to the plethora of 18 devised by perfumer Eugene Rimmel, we found that using a basic group of six aligns more closely with the natural world. Using categories such as woody, herbaceous, floral, spicy, resinous, and citrus is straightforward and meaningful.
Not only does the scent group method widen the pool of oils from which to choose, it also gives us three ways of working with the groups. We can blend oils within their scent group, or combine two neighboring groups or two opposite groups, to create any number of blends that suit our purposes and noses. From another viewpoint, working with the sacred number three, and its multiples, sets the stage for magical purposes. Three ways to blend six scent groups results in the very magical number nine to support our aromatic alchemy.
From scent groups we moved on to perfume notes. Although relating scents to musical scales began with Septimus Piesse, it was William Poucher who refined and streamlined it into the three notes popularly used today. This provided another unique way to combine scents and gave us an additional way of relating to plants. Starting with three oils (sacred three again)—one from each note—helps us learn the unique properties of the oils and how they function with each other. With this understanding we can branch out and explore how more oils can add new dimensions to a blend while providing powerful magical support.
The fourth method for creating a blend was one that I devised. After years of working with various parts of plants to enhance my rituals and magic work, I classified essential oils accordingly and began to create blends based on the plant part from which oils were extracted. Just as with the botanical family method, this presents a small group of oils from which to choose. However, rather than seeing this as a limitation, I used it to strengthen my vision and planning. As a result, I have been profoundly moved and gratified by the way this has deepened my work. And then, of course, it’s fun to combine different plant-part oils for various purposes. This exploration expands my creativity and helps to personalize each blend.
I feel that through this book the carrier oils are finally given the attention and respect they deserve. Too many sources first recommend picking up any vegetable oil at the supermarket and then gloss over the magical aspects. It’s really a shame, because paying attention to the quality and the magical potential of carrier oils enhances and brings so much energy to a blend.
In the oil profiles that follow in Section Two, you will find detailed information about the oils as well as the plants from which they are extracted. In addition to physical descriptions, historical backgrounds are included to help us connect with the plants as well as with how people used them in the past. I think this information can help us develop our own connections for the oils, which makes our magic unique and alive.
My vision for this book was to present information that would build confidence for readers to experiment with creating unique blends while exploring the green world. While the methods detailed in Section One may be quickly mastered, my intention for Section Two and the appendices is to provide reference material that will be useful for you in years to come. I hope your journey into aromatic alchemy inspires your creativity, furthers your magic, and helps to deepen your spiritual practices.
The Essential Oils
allspice: berry oil
allspice: leaf oil
amyris
angelica: root oil
angelica: seed oil
anise
basil
bay
benzoin
bergamot
birch, white
cajeput
camphor
cananga
caraway
cardamom
carrot
cassia: bark oil
cassia: leaf oil
catnip
cedarwood, Atlas
cedarwood, Virginia
celery
chamomile, German
chamomile, Roman
cinnamon: bark oil
cinnamon: leaf oil
citronella
clary sage
clove: bud oil
clove: leaf oil
coriander
cumin
cypress
dill: leaf oil
dill: seed oil
elemi
eucalyptus, blue gum
eucalyptus, lemon
fennel, bitter
fennel, sweet
fir, balsam: needle oil
fir, balsam: resin oil
fir, silver: cone oil
fir, silver: needle oil
frankincense
galangal
galbanum
geranium, rose
ginger
grapefruit
helichrysum
hops
hyssop
jasmine
juniper
labdanum
lavandin
lavender, spike
lavender, true
lemon
lemon balm
lemongrass, East Indian
lemongrass, West Indian
lime: peel oil
lime: whole fruit oil
litsea
lovage: leaf and stalk oil
lovage: root oil
mandarin
marjoram
mugwort
myrrh
myrtle
neroli
niaouli
nutmeg
oakmoss
opopanax
orange, bitter
orange, sweet
oregano
palmarosa
parsley
patchouli
pepper, black
peppermint
petitgrain
pine, Scotch
rose, Damask
rose, Maroc
rosemary
sage, common
sage, Spanish
sandalwood
savory, summer
savory, winter
snakeroot
spearmint
spikenard
spruce, hemlock
star anise
storax
tagetes
tarragon
tea tree
thyme
turmeric
valerian
vetiver
yarrow
ylang-ylang
The Carrier Oils
almond, sweet
apricot
avocado
borage
camellia
cranberry
evening primrose
flax
grape
hazelnut
jojoba
olive
pecan
pomegranate
rosehip
sesame
sunflower