Botanical Incenses

Introduction: Botanical and other incense is a tool that can be tailored to the user's desire. At their simplest they may be used to stimulate the sense of smell and bring enjoyment to those nearby, alternatively, they can be a subtle compilation designed to create a specific ambiance for a ritual or magical operation.
The following guide contains some botanical (and a few other substances) and their uses when burned. The attributes have been derived from a great many sources, both published and personal communication, and like most magical properties they are most effective when tailored to the individual or group using them. So sit down and burn some and see if they work for you. Try combinations. I have included some recipes that have worked for myself and others in the hopes that you will find them useful. Happy Censing!

A Scheme of Things: The botanicals, which I will discuss, fall into several broad categories:

1) EVOCATIVE - used to get the attention of divinities or to summon spirits
2) DIVINATORY - used to foretell the future or to see hidden secrets
3) PURIFICATORY - used to purify the purpose of a rite or the action of a given object
4) ENHANCING - used to intensify the purpose of a rite or the action of a given object
5) PROTECTIVE - used to shield the user or area from harm
6) BANISHING - used to drive out unwanted influences or spirits
7) HEALING - used to promote wholeness in mind, body or spirit
8) SPELL CASTING - used to promote a purpose, e.g., love, fertility, money, luck, fortune, concentration, etc.

Many botanicals fall into several categories, for example: Wormwood (Artemisia) can be used:

To evoke Artemis and call the dead
To promote divination
When consecrated to Mars in banishing
It was used to banish the Black Plague fleas
When consecrated to Mars, in works of anger.

Some Examples:
1) Evocative: Almond, Lotus, Ash, Mandrake, Basil, Myrrh, Bay, Olive, Blessed Thistle, Patchouli, Damiana, Rowan, Dittany of Crete Rue, Elm, Thyme, Frankincense, Verbena, Henbane, Vervain, Wormwood, Yarrow
2) Divinatory: Ash, Linseed, Bay, Mugwort, Cinquefoil, Rowan, Clove, Thyme, Elm, Wormwood, Frankincense, Yarrow
3) Purificatory: Angelica, Mastic gum, Bayberry, Myrrh, Burnet, Olive, Cinnamon 4) Healing: Balm of Gilead Myrrh, Lavender, Rosemary, Life Everlasting, Wormwood
5) Enhancing: Anise seed, Lotus, Angelica, Mandrake, Celery seed, Mastic gum, Cinnamon, Mugwort, Cinquefoil, Orris root, Cloves, Peppermint, Damiana, Sandalwood, Dragon's Blood, Styrax, Frankincense, Uva Ursi, Henbane
6) Protective: Alfalfa, Juniper wood, Basil, Life Everlasting flowers, Blessed Thistle, Mastic gum, Bay, Mistletoe, Camphor, Mugwort, Cinquefoil, Orris root, Elder, Rosemary, Five Finger Grass, Rowan, Frankincense, St. John's Wort, Garlic, Vervain
7) Banishing: Agrimony, Lavender, Ash, Pine, Camphor, Rowan, Dragon's Blood, Vervain, Juniper wood, Wormwood
8) Spell Casting: Basil, Patchouli, Bayberry, Peppermint, Benzoin gum, Rosemary, Camphor, Rowan, Cinnamon, Rue, Damiana, Sandalwood, Dragon's Blood, Tormantil, Frankincense, Uva Ursi, Lavender, Vervain, Lemon peel, St. John's Wort, Life Everlasting flowers, Wormwood, Mandrake, Yarrow, Mistletoe, Ylang Ylang, Orris Root

Purification & Consecration Of Sacred Space
1 part sage
1 part bay leaves
1 part cloves, a dash a sea salt
1 part cedar
20 drops of Benzoin oil

Purification Bath
4 parts lavender
4 parts rosemary
3 parts thyme
3 parts basil
2 parts fennel
2 parts hyssop
1 part mint
1 part Vervain
a pinch of valerian root
Boil water. Add ingredients in a flow through bag. Let brew for 1 hour. Add to lukewarm bath water.

Incense For Love Spells
1 part wild cherry bark
1 part rose petals and buds
1 part sandalwood
1 part basil
few drops rose oil
few drops lavender oil

Beltane Incense
1 part blue violet flowers
1 part red sandalwood
1 part sage
1 part lavender
1 part juniper berries
20 drops jasmine oil

Wiccan Incenses and perfumes

Initiation To be compounded on the night of the full moon:
1 part rosemary
1 part marjoram
2 parts mistletoe
2 parts frankincense
1 part broom
10 ml lotus oil per 8 oz. dry herbs
10 ml musk oil per 8 oz. dry herbs

Mix up your dry ingredients and weigh the whole. Add the oils at the rate indicated by weight. Mix the herbs and oils well, then grind them to a powder in a mortar. Store in a dry area in a glass jar for at least one month to mature.

Handfasting To be compounded on the night of the full moon:
2 parts honeysuckle flowers
2 parts juniper berries
3 parts frankincense
1 part Uva Ursi
10 ml amber oil per 8 oz. dry ingredients
10 ml musk oil per 8 oz. dry ingredients

Mix as above.

Esbat To be compounded on the night of the full moon:
3 parts Damiana
2 parts frankincense
1 part rosemary
2 parts gum copal
1 part euphorbia
10 ml patchouli oil per 8 oz. dry ingredients

Mix as above.

High Priest
To be compounded on the night of the full moon by the High Priest himself:
3 parts oak
3 parts mistletoe
1 part goldenrod
2 parts white poplar
3 parts myrrh resin
10 ml lotus oil per 8 oz. dry ingredients
5 ml musk oil per 8 oz. dry ingredients
5 ml frangipani oil per 8 oz. dry ingredients

Mix as above.

High Priestess
To be compounded on the night of the full moon by the High Priestess herself:
3 parts Orrisroot
2 parts sandalwood
1 part broom
3 parts damiana
2 parts juniper berries
10 ml carnation oil per 8 oz. dry ingredients
5 ml musk oil per 8 oz. dry ingredients
5 ml jasmine oil per 8 oz. dry ingredients

Making Ritual perfumed Oils
For every 1 oz. powdered incense, use 25 ml sweet almond oil. Crush the incense further to release its scent and place in a pan with the oil. Gently heat the oil and herbs to warm, but not hot, and remove from heat. Let cool completely and strain. Bottle and keep in a cool place. Use within 3 months, but if kept longer, add 2 ml Benzoin tincture per 25 ml oil as a preservative.

Making Ointments
Take 50 ml perfumed oil and add 1 oz. pure beeswax. Heat this over very low heat just until the wax melts. Stir until cooled and put into jars.
Muscle-Soothing Liniment* 1/2 C olive oil essential oil
8 drops eucalyptus essential oil
8 drops peppermint essential oil
8 drops rosemary essential oil
4 drops cinnamon essential oil
4 drops clove essential oil

Combine ingredients. Rub into sore, cramping muscles as needed. Note: This is HOT! Keep it away from your eyes, and wash your hands after use. Note: Some people have allergic reactions to cinnamon on the skin as well as eucalyptus. Be cautious and be wise.

The essential oils in this imminent (especially the peppermint and the cinnamon) will "heat" your skin as you run in the mixture. The heat distracts your mind from the pain, causing your muscles to relax. Rosemary also serves as a muscle relaxant, and the olive oil dilutes the essential oils so they won't cause skin irritation. *Not to be taken internally