Beauty Potions

Freya’s Youth Potion

Cowslips are wild peonies and are said to be Freya’s favorite flowers, as well as those of the fairies. Reputedly they magically transmit the beauty secrets of these powerful spirits.

  1. Create an infusion, although you may also substitute a hydrosol.
  2. Boil water and pour it over the blossoms.
  3. When the water cools, strain out the blossom.
  4. Apply the potion to your face with a cotton ball.
  5. Use the remainder in the bath or elsewhere on the body.
  6. You may also refrigerate the remainder for 24 hours.

Old School Beauty Potion

This will improve your looks and keep you looking young for as long as your genes will allow and beyond.  It combines a bit of old herbal medicine, and a bit of new nutritional science.  Drink this twice a week.  Set a reminder for Tuesday and Saturday, for example.

INGREDIENTS:

  • 1 cup orange juice
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1-2 teaspoons honey
  • 2 egg yolks (bless your eggs with your fertility Goddess)
  • 1 gram dried Roman chamomile if you are under 25 or 1 gram dried helichrysum arenarum if you are over 25

INSTRUCTIONS:

  1. Make a tea (preferably in your cauldron) from the water and chamomile by heating the water until it is just boiling, adding the chamomile, and removing it from the heat.  Let this settle and cool.
  2. Put your egg yolks in the bottom of a pretty wine glass, and beat them well.
  3. Mix in the honey, and then the orange juice, and the liquid of your tea.
  4. Drink up.  This does not keep for long.

Lavender Water

Despite lavender water’s associations with the saintly Hildegard, it earned its magical reputation as a potion favored by prostitutes.

Lavender water, worn on the body, allegedly attracts sexual interest from either gender while simultaneously sharpening the wits of the wearer.

  • Two cups of distilled water
  • Two ounces (100 ml) of vodka or other minimally scented alcohol
  • Approximately 12–20 drops of essential oil of lavender

For external use only.

Florida Water

Florida Water was originally marketed as the American version of the original eau de Cologne and should have an attractive, refreshing, light, citrus-rosemary fragrance. Florida Water, however, has also developed into something of a metaphysical staple among the Vodou/Santeria communities, as well as the many influenced by them. It is an intensely powerful spiritual cleanser and protective agent.

Florida Water may be the only charged water whose name is copyrighted. It is officially manufactured and sold by the Murray and Lanman Company, and theirs is an excellent, inexpensive product, easily available in markets that cater to a Caribbean clientele.

There are thousands of versions of homemade Florida Water, and many practitioners pride themselves on their home recipes.

Here are two slightly different versions. (Authors unknown)

Florida Water (1)

  • Two cups of vodka or other alcohol
  • Two tablespoons rose hydrosol
  • Sixteen drops essential oil of bergamot
  • Twelve drops essential oil of lavender
  • Six drops essential oil of may chang
  • Three drops essential oil of rosemary
  • Two drops essential oil of jasmine
  • Two drops rose attar

Florida Water (2)

  • Two cups vodka or other alcohol
  • Two tablespoons orange flower water or hydrosol
  • One tablespoon turmeric powder
  • One quarter teaspoon finely ground orrisroot
  • Twelve drops essential oil of bergamot
  • Twelve drops essential oil of lavender
  • Six drops essential oil of may chang
  • Three drops essential oil of rosemary
  • Two drops rose attar
  • Two drops neroli

Shake this second formula vigorously to distribute the powder.

Florida Water may be added to virtually any cleansing bath or floorwash formula as an added enhancement. It is for external use only.

New Orleans Parfum d’Amour

  1. Blend and gently warm the following ingredients: Florida Water, Rose water or hydrosol Cinnamon hydrosol
  2. Dissolve honey in the liquid, stirring to distribute.
  3. Allow it to cool.
  4. Place in a bottle and wear the fragrance.