Mixing Essential Oils for Magic: Aromatic Alchemy for Personal Blends (19 page)

130 Essential Oil Profiles

Oil and Blending Information

The leaf buds are steam distilled to produce a pale yellow oil. It has a woody, balsamic scent.

Strength
: 3

Scent Group
: woody

Perfume Note
: base

Plant Part
: As Above/Leaves

Warning
: may cause skin irritation

Magical Uses

Birch is one of the classic nine woods that were gathered for ritual fires. Use it to clear negativity before ritual and for protection during magic work. It is also useful for purification and attracting abundance. As a symbol of birth and renewal, birch helps us learn from the past when making a fresh start. Employ it for divination, love spells, and to attract fairies. Birch aids in opening the mind and expanding awareness to receive inspiration, blessings, and wisdom. It is also associated with creativity, intuition, and spirits. Use birch to aid in personal growth, healing, and general well-being. When used for focusing energy, birch brings clarity, opens the way for knowledge, and finding one’s purpose in life. It is also associated with defense, determination, fertility, security, and stability.

Correspondences

Solar System
: Jupiter, Moon, Sun, Venus

Zodiac
: Capricorn, Sagittarius

Celebrations
: Beltane, Ostara, Yule

Elements
: air, water

Goddesses
: Arianrhod, Cerridwen, Freya, Frigg, Kupula

Gods
: Angus, the Dagda, Lugh, Thor

Essential Oil Profiles 131

Cajeput

Botanical Name
:
Melaleuca cajeputi
, syn.
M. leucadendron

Family
:
Myrtaceae

Also Known As
: paperbark tree, swamp tea tree, white tea tree, white wood

Reaching a height of 130 feet, this tree has pale green, pointed leaves and spikes of white flower clusters. Cajeput’s distinguishing characteristic is its whitish bark that easily flakes and peels. It grows wild in southeast Asia, the Philippines, and Australia where it is indigenous. During the 1600s, the Dutch introduced it into Europe where it became part of the pharmacist’s arsenal for many centuries.

Oil and Blending Information

Steam distillation of the leaves and twigs produces a pale yellow-green oil. The scent is fresh, camphoraceous and slightly fruity.

Strength
: 3

Scent Group
: woody

Perfume Note
: middle to top

Plant Part
: So Below/Twigs & Leaves

Warning
: may cause skin irritation

Magical Uses

Although cajeput is not widely used in magic and ritual, it can provide balance and stability when combined with other oils. Cajeput stimulates the mind and strengthens courage.

It aids in creative and sexual expression as well as transformation. This oil helps build or re-build a solid sense of self for growth and healing. Cajeput is also associated with determination, protection, and security.

Correspondences

Solar System
: Saturn

Elements
: earth, fire

132 Essential Oil Profiles

Camphor

Botanical Name
:
Cinnamomum camphora

Family
:
Lauraceae

Also Known As
: laurel camphor, true camphor, white camphor

While the ancient Japanese believed that this tree had power over the elements, the Buddhist and Taoist in China planted camphor around their temples for purification. In the 13th century Marco Polo noted that camphor oil was a prized medicinal and embalming

ingredient in the East and by the late 17th century it was used medicinally throughout Europe. Native to Japan and Taiwan, camphor is an evergreen with leaves that start out red, but turn dark green over time. Its small, white flowers grow in clusters and its oval-shaped berries are red.

Oil and Blending Information

Steam distilling the wood and bark of camphor produces three fractions or grades of oil.

White is the lightest, brown is the middle, and yellow, which is bluish-green or yellow in color, is the heaviest. The brown and yellow grades are toxic as well as carcinogenic and should be avoided. White camphor is colorless to pale yellow with a sharp and distinctive scent called camphoraceous.

Strength
: 5

Scent
Group: resinous

Perfume Note
: middle to top

Plant Part
: So Below/Wood & Bark

Warnings
: avoid during pregnancy; avoid if you have epilepsy or other seizure disorder; not compatible with homeopathic treatment; use in moderation

Magical Uses

Camphor has strong cleansing and banishing properties that are instrumental in clearing away negative energy. It is especially good for clearing the home. Camphor’s power to subdue sexual desire can be useful after ending a relationship as well as when celibacy or chastity are desired. Use it to increase and strengthen psychic power and to enhance divination and dream work. It is supportive for moon and element magic. Camphor aids Essential Oil Profiles 133

in keeping the mind focused in the present as well as awakening past-life memories. It can bring emotional clarity when growth and/or healing is sought. Camphor is also associated with balance, cycles, protection, purpose, and strength.

Correspondences

Zodiac
: Cancer, Pisces

Solar System
: Moon

Elements
: air, earth, water

Goddess
: Kuan Yin

The Cananga Oils

Botanical Family
:
Annonaceae

Cananga trees are tropical evergreens from Asia with lance-shaped leaves and large flowers that can be mauve, pink, or yellow. While the tree that produces ylang-ylang is a variety of the cananga, its oil is considered superior. That said, cananga is a nice oil in its own right that is often used as a substitute for ylang-ylang because it is less expensive.

Cananga

Botanical Name
:
Cananga odorata

The species name means fragrant or sweet smelling. During the Victorian era (1837–

1901), oil from the cananga was used as a hair treatment called Macassar oil.

Oil and Blending Information

The flowers are steam distilled producing a greenish-yellow oil. It has a sweet, floral, and slightly woody scent.

Strength
: 3

Scent Group
: floral

Perfume Note
: middle to base

Plant Part
: As Above/Flowers
Warning
: possible sensitization

134 Essential Oil Profiles

Ylang-Ylang

Botanical Name
:
Cananga odorata
var.
genuine

Also known as
: the flower of flowers

Ylang-ylang is a flower of traditions. In the South Pacific ylang-ylang flowers are strung together to make the famous necklaces called leis. In Indonesian ylang-ylang flowers are sprinkled across the wedding bed to ensure a sweet first night.

Oil and Blending Information

A colorless to pale yellow oil is produced by steam or water distillation of the flowers. It has a slightly spicy, sweet, floral scent.

Strength
: 3

Scent Group
: floral

Perfume Note
: middle to base

Plant Part
: As Above/Flowers

Warning
: may cause sensitization

Magical Uses

These oils promote positive energy and help bring peace and beauty to the home. They stimulate intuition and promote creativity. Ideal for divination, they also aid in dream work and communication with spirits. These oils provide a great deal of supportive energy during times of transition and exploration of one’s deeper spirituality. They are effective in spells to attract a lover, heighten sensuality, and to attract attention. Use them for fairy magic and to attract fairies. These oils are also associated with balance, determination, fertility, healing, and the home.

Correspondences

Zodiac
: Pisces, Taurus

Solar System
: Mercury, Moon, Venus

Elements
: air, earth, water

Gods
: Elegua, Obalata, Oggun

Essential Oil Profiles 135

Caraway

Botanical Name
:
Carum carvi

Family
:
Apiaceae

Also known as
: carium

Native to Europe and western Asia, caraway is an herb with ridged stems, feathery leaves, and umbels of white flowers. Caraway seeds have had culinary and medicinal uses since ancient times. They were popular with the Egyptians, Greeks and Romans and later throughout Europe and the Middle East. According to the Roman naturalist and philosopher, Pliny (23–79 CE), the plant was named for the Caria region in Asia Minor.23 In Europe there was a belief that anything containing caraway could not be taken, which resulted in a saying “feed your lover caraway and he cannot be stolen from you.”24 Extending that further, people fed their chickens, pigeons, and geese caraway seeds to keep them from wandering off. Caraway was also used as a multi-functional protector against evil spirits.

Oil and Blending Information

Steam distillation of the seeds produces a colorless or pale yellow to yellowish-brown oil.

The scent is sweet-spicy and warm.

Strength
: 5

Scent Group
: spicy

Perfume Note
: middle

Plant Part
: As Above & So Below/Seeds

Warning
: may cause skin irritation

Magical Uses

Caraway is effective when there is a problem in keeping or retaining things, including magical tools as well as secrets. While caraway is effective in preventing the loss of a lover, it can also help renew a relationship. It is instrumental in stimulating cycles, increasing luck, and maintaining well-being.Use caraway to restore confidence, encourage fidelity, and to initiate changes. It is effective in sex and element magic as well as dream work. Caraway is also associated with fertility, luck, memories, the mind, protection, and renewal.

23. Heilmeyer,
Ancient Herbs,
30

24. Janardhanan and Thoppil,
Herb & Spice Essential Oils
, 35

136 Essential Oil Profiles

Correspondences

Zodiac
: Gemini

Solar System
: Mercury

Elements
: air, fire

Cardamom

Botanical Name
:
Elettaria cardamomum

Family
:
Zingiberaceae

Also Known As
: cardamomi, Indian spice plant

Cardamom is one of the oldest-known spices and has been used medicinally for over 3000

years in China and India. The Egyptians used it for perfumes, while the Greeks favored it for culinary and medicinal purposes. Its species and common names come from the Greek name for the plant.25 Today, it is still extensively used as a spice as well as a flavoring for coffee and liqueurs. Native to tropical Asia, cardamom has lance-like leaves and yellowish-white flowers that are marked with a striking mauve vein pattern. This herb can grow up to 15 feet tall.

Oil and Blending Information

A colorless to pale yellow oil is produced by steam distillation of the seeds. It has a warm, sweet-spicy scent with a woody undertone.

Strength
: 4

Scent Group
: spicy

Perfume Note
: middle

Plant Part
: As Above & So Below/Seeds

Magical Uses

Cardamom uplifts the mind, aiding concentration, creativity, and divination. It is said to be an aphrodisiac that increases sexual appetite and makes a lover more passionate. Cardamom also increases love and strengthens partnerships. Use it to boost sex magic as well as stimulate desires and lust. This oil promotes healing by coming into balance. It boosts confidence and courage through clarity of purpose. Cardamom is also associated with beginnings and cycles.

25. Clarkson,
Magic Gardens
, 369

Essential Oil Profiles 137

Correspondences

Zodiac
: Aries, Cancer, Pisces, Taurus

Solar System
: Venus

Elements
: earth, fire, water

Goddesses
: Erzuli, Hecate

Carrot

Botanical Name
:
Daucus carota

Family
:
Apiaceae

Also Known As
: bee’s nest, bird’s nest, Queen Anne’s lace, wild carrot

The common names of bee’s and bird’s nest come from the tendency of the flower head

to curve upward forming a basket. Native to Europe, Asia, and northern Africa, wild carrot has a three-foot tall, erect stem, feathery leaves, and flat, green seeds. Although its fleshy, orange root is much smaller than today’s cultivated carrot, it was a common food for ancient Greeks and Romans. When the plant was introduced into Britain in the 16th century the flowers and leaves became popular hair accessories. The large flower head actually consists of numerous tiny, white flowers with a red or purple one at the center.

According to legend, the center flower symbolized a drop of blood from Queen Anne

(1665–1714) who pricked her finger while making lace.

Oil and Blending Information

Steam distilling the seeds produces a yellow or amber colored oil with a herbaceous, woody-earthy and slightly spicy scent.

Strength
: 3

Scent Group
: herbaceous

Perfume Note
: middle

Plant Part
: As Above & So Below/Seeds

Magical Uses

This humble plant is associated with sex—ranging from male fertility to conception to heightening lust. Use this oil for sex magic as well as element magic. Carrot is also instrumental for purifying ritual space and clearing negativity in general. Employ it to initiate 138 Essential Oil Profiles