Ten Essential Oils No Witch Should Be Without
© 2000 by Mareth SummerWind
Recently, my three nephews came for a visit. They are wonderful boys, well-behaved, if sometimes a little rambunctious. What else can you expect, though, from three boys under the age of thirteen? After all, that's what makes them fun! As usual, we all ended up watching television in my bedroom--where I also keep all of my magickal supplies--late that night.
The boys are being raised Christian by my sister and her husband and I respect that. Although they know that I don't follow their religious path, I have refrained from telling them that their Auntie is a Witch. I figure that it's best to be vague until they're older; that way, I don't end up explaining things to them before they are mature enough to look beyond the misconceptions about those who follow the Old Path.
Nothing in my room is strictly off-limits and I answer their questions, as best I can, when they show an interest in something. The youngest, who is seven, saw the box that I use to store my essential oils and asked how I use them. That led to a brief explanation of perfumery and a couple of hours of sniffing the different oils.
When he asked if he could make some "smell-good oil" the next morning, I told him that he could. Never one to forget anything, he reminded me before we'd even had breakfast. So, as soon as the two younger boys had eaten, we brought the oils, droppers, and empty bottles into the kitchen to work. As they began to mix their personal scents, I cautioned them both to be extremely careful, since some of the oils are very expensive and none of them come cheap.
By this time the eldest had wandered into the kitchen, looking for something to devour, and asked how much money I had spent on the oils. I honestly wasn't sure, but guessed at the amount, using $5.00 per bottle (a very low estimate), and came up with an approximate investment of $400.00.
That absolutely shocked me! I had never really considered the cost of my "collection," since I've been buying an oil here and there for a few years. Then, it started me thinking. What if I hadn't been able to spend that much money on oils? What if I were just starting out and had to pick just a few basics to work with?
That pondering has led to this list. I consulted Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs and contemplated the uses of the different herbs. I have based my choices on two factors: which oils I use most frequently and the diversity of their magickal applications. You may notice that some of the oils I recommend are a bit expensive. I have found a store in Columbus that carries diluted essential oils that are economical and work quite well for me. I would exercise caution when shopping; try to avoid anything labeled "perfume oil," since that type of blend is generally just a chemical compound which happens to smell similar to the real thing.
With that said, on to the list...
My first choice is Frankincense. Even though, I don't really care for the scent by itself, frankincense is in so many recipes that I use. It is also fairly versatile; it can be used for protection, purification, and spirituality. It is associated with the Sun and the element of Fire, making it a perfect oil to represent the God.
As far as I'm concerned, Myrrh is another "must-have." I love the scent and it's a staple ingredient for magickal oil mixtures. Myrrh is connected to the Moon and the element of Water. Its attributes are protection, exorcism, healing, and spirituality. Myrrh is also known as the "tears of the Goddess."
Third on my list is Lavender, one of my all-time favorites. That shouldn't come as a surprise, since it is associated with the planet Mercury and the element of Air. Not only does it smell divine, but it is also quite versatile. It can be used in mixtures to promote love, purification, sleep, chastity, longevity, protection, happiness, and peace.
I also must recommend Patchouli, with its wonderful, earthy, sensual aroma. It can be used in to bring money, lust, and fertility. Its associations with the element of Earth and the planet Saturn help to bring about tangible results when patchouli is used in magickal formulas.
No Witch's oil collection would be complete without Rose oil. In it's pure, undiluted form, Rose Absolute is one of the most expensive oils to buy. I use so much of it that purchasing it would beggar me, so I use the diluted oil instead. With its connections to the planet Venus and the element of Water, Rose promotes love, psychic powers, healing, luck, and protections. It is also reputed to be good to use in love divination.
Carnation is another oil that I use on a regular basis. It smells divine and is useful for protection, strength and healing. This mild-smelling oil is associated with the Sun and the element of Fire, making it quite potent, magickally speaking.
Lemon oil is a staple ingredient of mixtures to encourage longevity, purification, love, and friendship. Its connections to the Moon and the element of water make it especially useful in anointing oils for the Esbats.
Cinnamon is another of my favorites. Associated with the Sun and the element of Fire, it encourages spirituality, success, healing, power, lust, protection, love, and psychic powers. I add one drop of it to each oil blend that I make, charging it for success. Be careful when adding this oil to bath or anointing blends; it is known as a skin irritant.
While not one of my favorite scents, Jasmine is another important oil to keep on hand. Ruled by the Moon and the element of water, this floral scent encourages the manifestation of love, money and prophetic dreams.
Rounding out my list of the top ten essential oils is Ginger. It is extremely useful for adding extra "oomph" to magickal blends. Associated with the planet Mars and the element of Fire, it draws love, money, success, and power to the user.
