EXPLORING THE HISTORY AND MYTHOLOGY OF PERFUMES AND ESSENTIAL OILS IN FOLKLORE AND MAGIC
Perfume is a wonderfully romantic concept! When a Fragrance Designer creates a new perfume, they are not only carefully and scientifically consulting a unique mix of aroma compounds to make a beautiful and pleasing scent; they are also drawing on the whimsical, fantastical elements of the various choices in their Perfume Organs or in their lab in Grasse or wherever...They are ultimately selling not just a highly regulated beauty product, but an idea, a Dream even...
Every different Essential oil or Fragrance Absolute has its own unique character and personality. Often this is very subjective thing, and will come from traditional ideas; perhaps it's use in folklore and medicine, or mythology around certain aromas or natural materials.
In addition, each difference fragrance will mean very specific things to you as an individual - perfume is strongly linked with memory - so when composing a fragrance to fit a certain atmosphere or mood board, it is ask important to consider your own thoughts and feelings. Does this Essential oil hold special significance for me? Does it make me feel happy, nostalgic etc? Perhaps it brings memories flooding back of a beautiful romantic holiday you once shared, and so on.
As a Wiccan and as a Natural Perfumer, it can be very useful to know the history of the various natural perfumes available, their symbolism, and their traditional use. For Aroma has long been a part of both magical and religious rituals down the ages.
We all recognise, for instance, the spiritually lifting power of Frankincense swung from a silver censor as the priest processes down the aisle in a High Church Ceremony; or recognise the energising wakeful energies of peppermint or citrus in a rebirth or renewal spell. These energies which fragrance creates are useful, in fact some would say essential, to summon up the necessary atmosphere to do your magical rituals. (Or indeed on a simpler level, to design yourself a perfect homemade perfume which matches your unique personality right now!)
LET'S TAKE A LOOK NOW AT SOME OF THE FRAGRANCE OR ESSENTIALS OILS WE MIGHT ENCOUNTER AND THEIR TRADITIONAL AND SYMBOLIC USES DOWN THE AGES.
Sandalwood
Sandalwood is a beautiful calming woody fragrance; think mellow saps and pine needles in fresh wintry air. In Wicca Sandalwood is usually used in the form of incense which is burnt during the course of a spell. It is also available as an essential oil though, as are many herbs, flowers, and botanicals.
The fragrance of Sandalwood is associated with spells for protection, harmony, purification, healing and spirituality. It is linked with the sun and moon, and the star signs Cancer, Pisces, and Leo.
Cinnamon
Cinnamon essential oil is very potent, so please do be careful and avoid contact with your eyes - dilute it with some kind of base oil, such as Sweet Almond oil if you are going to be using it directly on your skin. Cinnamon is a wonderfully warming and comforting spice; think rice pudding toppings and mulled wine at Christmas. As a such it is traditionally associated with the fire signs Aries and Leo. Use Cinnamon oil in your spell or perfume if you wish to attract passion, love, fire energies, protection, courage or prosperity.
Lavender
The refreshing crisp scent of lavender is soft and nostalgic, quietly and sweetly refined. If you grow lavender in your garden then the flowers can be dried to create dream pillows or drawer sachets to scent your clothes. It is also edible, so it can be used to brew potions or to add its aromatic flavour to shortbread or ice creams etc. The fragrance of lavender is commonly used by witches to strengthen spells involving beauty, purification, love and happiness. It is also considered to be a relaxing sleep aid, and even to encourage psychic dreams. It is linked with the element of air and the signs of Virgo and Gemini.
Rose
The romantic rose is the ultimate partner to your spells of love and passion! It is no wonder then that a bouquet of red roses in considered to be a time honoured gift between lovers, and you can use this powerful long acknowledged aphrodisiac scent to great effect if you are performing love spells for yourself or others. The rose itself has magical properties, and like lavender, it is safe to consume or to place directly on the skin - so you can anoint yourself with it, bathe in it, or add it to potions. The petals can also be dried and ground to make an incense. The possibilities are endless with this lovely scent!
The fragrance of roses is particularly effective in spells involving love, beauty, luck, lust, and psychic knowledge (of future romances, of course!). It is no surprise that the rose is strongly associated with the planet Venus and feminine energy; also the star signs Taurus, Libra, Cancer and Sagittarius. If you are looking to attract love into your life - you need to be wearing rose oil!
Frankincense
This very special resin has a unique and refreshing light woodsy scent. It has long been valued by Wiccans and by the church for its mind expanding properties. There is just something about Frankincense incense swung in a censer or anointed as an oil that clarifies and calms the mind, allowing higher thought and inspiration to enter in. If rose is the ultimate romantic fragrance in witchcraft, then Frankincense is, in my opinion, the ultimate meditational and spell casting partner. This means if you are ever unsure which essential oil or incense is most suitable for your specific magical purpose at the time, Frankincense is always a good choice. It should be your "go to" fragrance, as it were - as it has the capability to chase away mundane thoughts and encourage connection with the powers of magic.
Patchouli
Most people think of hippies when they hear the word Patchouli, but do not underestimate this powerful magical herb (which is a member of the mint family). As well as having an interesting and complex herbaceous scent it is a fantastic tool to use in spells for prosperity and protection. It is linked with the planet Earth and Saturn - so is also useful in any kind of grounding spell or spell for material things and manifestation. Taurus, Capricorn and Aquarius are commonly associated with the fragrance of Patchouli.
Jasmine
Jasmine is a beautiful white flower with a heavenly heady scent. Like the rose it is considered by Wiccans to be one of the ultimate aphrodisiac, love attracting fragrances, and Jasmine essential oil or incense is therefore often made use of in spells for love, passion, and emotions in general. Other uses for Jasmine Essential oil or incense include spells for psychic knowledge, prosperity, dreams, and spirituality. It is strongly associated with the moon and water signs such as Cancer and Pisces. Jasmine flowers can be drunk as a tea or applied to the body in perfume oil.
There are many wonderful Essential oils and incense varieties available - this is only a small sampling of some of the most common and powerful. If used correctly the power of fragrance can lend helpful energies and atmosphere to your spell work, which help you to work more effective magic. Before you cast your circle it is worth thinking carefully about which particular fragrance will best suit your needs - remember every spell is different - you will know which feels right. Over time you may grow to discover a favourite scent which you feel is your own "signature scent"; a scent which reliably channels helpful energy for those everyday, or none specific spells.
Interested in brewing up a LOVE potion or two? Take a look at Apple Pip Passion Potion or How to use Wild Valerian Herb or Harvesting your Potion Ingredients
