Magical oils are mixtures of real essential oils or synthetic scented oils blended into a base of vegetable oil such as almond oil or apricot kernel oil. The scented oils are added drop by drop and diluted with the base oil. They are mixed in small quantities to produce an oil to anoint yourself, or objects with to achieve a magical intent. Tinctures and extracts are produced from the herb itself which is steeped in grain alcohol over a period of days. The alcohol acts as a solvent for the volatile oils in the plant material, drawing them out and absorbing them. The tincture or extract when done contains the essential elements of the plant material and can be used like an oil.

The oils you'll need depend upon what sort of magical work you want to do. I recommend buying them as you need them rather than stocking up in advance. True essential oils are expensive and all oils are volatile and must be stored properly to maintain their strength, by purchasing them in small quantities as needed you will be assured of having full strength oils and not spend money unnecessarily. Store all essential oils (EOs) in a cool, dry, dark place in the cobalt or amber bottle in which they were purchased. The bottle is dark to protect the oil from exposure to light. Do not purchase EOs in clear glass, or plastic bottles. Citrus and pine EOs should be stored in the refrigerator to retard the development of irritating chemicals which takes place naturally as they age.

EOs do not become rancid, but some lose their effectiveness with prolonged storage. As a rule of thumb, buy no more than you can use in a years time. Older EOs that retain their fragrance may still be used for that purpose. The base oils can be found at the grocery or health food store. I suggest storing your base oil in the refrigerator to lengthen it's life. All vegetable oils will eventually go rancid no matter how they are stored, it is a chemical process that comes from exposure to air and cannot be prevented indefinitely. When you make tinctures or extracts you use the fresh or dry herb. Grain alcohol can be purchased where you purchase liquor, either at a grocery store or a liquor store. You may have to ask for it, Clearsprings or Everclear are two brand name versions. If you cannot get grain alcohol where you live, use an inexpensive vodka.

You will need a minimum of equipment to produce oils and tinctures. An assortment of amber or deep blue glass bottles and vials to blend your oils in and store your tinctures and blended oils in to protect them from light. They should be kept in a cool, dry place since heat dissipates the essential oils and excessive moisture clouds the blend. It is necessary to point out here that your blends will eventually go rancid due to their vegetable oil base so make small quantities that you can use up quickly. Do not use any plastic or metal containers in making your oils and tinctures. Plastics absorb scents and will cross contaminate your product and metals can react with the essences. Some glass eyedroppers will be useful for measuring fragrant oils into the oil base and several larger, wide mouth jars such as well cleaned mayonnaise jars for steeping tinctures in will complete your equipment. You will want some labels for your finished product, fancy or plain, depending upon your taste. If possible use an indelible ink that won't dissolve if alcohol or oil spills on it or cover the label with clear cellophane tape like they do at the pharmacy.

When you are experimenting with oil blends it is wise to write down what you are adding and how much of it as you go. Otherwise, you may create the most wonderful, delicious smelling, love oil that works like a charm and not be able to recreate it when you want to make more. If you keep track of what you are trying you will know the exact, replicatable steps to make your fabulous creations again, and you will know what sounded good and smelled like crap so you don't have to try that combination again. Keep the recipes in a notebook or in your BOS for later reference.

Two cautions, it is possible to be allergic to oils and tinctures. If you plan to anoint yourself with them test your skin in a small patch before using them to be sure you won't have a reaction. Also, in case it occurs to you that you could use the essential oils straight, don't. Most of them will cause skin irritation if used full strength. Nobody wants to go to circle with a witch who has itchy, scaly, weeping sores all over them. You have been warned! And finally, if you are planning to anoint objects with your oils and tinctures be aware that they will stain. Both will leave oily residues and greasy marks on whatever you put them on. The alcohol in the tinctures can bleach the color out of some fabrics and all papers and will damage the finish on wood furniture. Keep this in mind when anointing to be sure you don't ruin anything precious or delicate.

As with any herbal product it is best to compound oils using the correct correspondences for the intent. See Correspondences for the correct timing for the ritual. Tinctures take more than one day to make so you cannot start and finish them at an hour chosen from the chart. If possible though, start them steeping on the correct day for the intent and strain and bottle them on the correct day and time one week later. Any herbal product will be stronger if compounded with ritual designed for the magical intent. It is important to visualize the achievement of your goal whilst preparing and bottling your creations.

Some herbs that you may want to use will not be available as a true essential oil. There are several possible reasons for this. Some herbs or flowers are so difficult to extract oils from that it is not done commercially. Some herbs or flowers produce Toxic essential oils, or oils that cause sensitization reactions severe enough to warrant them not being sold. In addition, some available essential oils are not safe to use during Do not use during Pregnancy and some oils cause what is known as Phototoxicity upon exposure to ultraviolet light which can cause anything from mild brown blotches through to severe burning of the skin. Many essential oils are irritating to the skin if not properly diluted. For these oils, you may want to substitute a synthetic perfume oil. Since the synthetic product does not contain the actual essences of the plant it does not have the same side effects. Some argue that the synthetic oils do not have the same magical attributes as the true essential oil, but in my experience, oils blended with synthetic oils do work.

Safety Information for Essential Oils

• Angelica-Phototoxic , Do not use during Pregnancy
• Benzoin-Sensitizer
• Bergamot-Phototoxic
• Bitter Almond-Toxic
• Arnica-Toxic
• Basil-Do not use during Pregnancy, Possible Carcinogen
• Bay-Do not use during Pregnancy, Sensitizer
• Bergamot-Phototoxic
• Birch (Sweet)-Toxic
• Broom-Toxic
• Calamus-Toxic Carcinogen
• Camphor-Toxic
• Cedar, Atlas-Do not use during Pregnancy
• Cedarwood-Do not use during Pregnancy
• Clove-Irritant
• Cinnamon Bark-Sensitizer
• Deertongue-Toxic
• Eucalyptus-Sensitizer, Toxic Orally
• Fennel-Carcinogen, Sensitizer, Do not use during Pregnancy
• Garlic-Toxic
• Geranium-Do not use during Pregnancy, Irritant
• Ginger-Phototoxic
• Grapefruit-Phototoxic
• Horseradish-Toxic
• Hyssop-Toxic , Do not use during Pregnancy
• Inula-Toxic
• Juniper Berry-Do not use during Pregnancy
• Lavendin-Do not use during Pregnancy, Toxic
• Lemon-Phototoxic , Irritant
• Lime-Phototoxic
• Marigold-Phototoxic , Toxic
• Marjoram-Do not use during Pregnancy
• Mugwort-Toxic
• Myrrh-Do not use during Pregnancy
• Mustard-Toxic
• Nutmeg-Possible Carcinogen, Toxic
• Oakmoss-Toxic , Do not use during Pregnancy, Sensitizer, Irritant
• Onion-Toxic
• Oregano-Irritant
• Parsley-Very Dangerous Do not use during Pregnancy, Toxic
• Pennyroyal-Toxic , Carcinogen
• Peppermint-Irritant
• Peru Balsam-Sensitizer
• Rosemary-Do not use during Pregnancy, Toxic
• Rue-Toxic
• Sassafras-Toxic , Carcinogen
• Spearmint-Irritant
• Tansy-Toxic
• Thuja-Toxic
• Thyme-Irritant
• Verbena-Sensitizer
• Wintergreen-Toxic
• Wormseed-Toxic
• Wormwood-Toxic
• Yarrow-Sensitizer, Toxic , Do not use during Pregnancy

The Magical Properties of Oils

The Magical Properties of Oils