Customer Reviews

The Complete Book of Incense, Oils and Brews (Llewellyn's Practical Magick)

5 star:		(83)
4 star:		(22)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This is one of my favorite books by Scott Cunningham. He explores so many different methods of magickal creation that there is something for everyone and more. If you want to learn more about making your own incense, brews, potions, powders, inks, soaps, tinctures, oils, herbal baths,etc., YOU MUST BUY THIS BOOK. Each section is informative and full of recipies, explanations, suggestions, and warnings. The chapter on substitution is excellent and the charts and appendixes are helpful as well. The book's tone is more instructional rather than spiritual, especially compared to Cunningham's other books. If you are looking for in-depth information about magical herbs and oils, I highly recommend reading Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs and The Magic of Aromatherapy in addition to The Complete Book of Incense, Oils, and Brews.

This book is designed for those with little experience with paganism, or at least with pagan herbalism. It does a great job at explaining the basics of pagan herbalism. It explains the uses of incense, oils, and brews in pagan life and ritual and the ways they are constructed and charged. Most importantly it desbribes the attributes of each common herb and provides complete and informative charts organized by element, by planetary influence, and by area (protection, love, healing, etc.).

It covers incenses, oils, soaps, tincintures, sachets, and brews. The major drawback of this broad coverage is that no one area is covered as fully as possible. The recipes in particular are barely adequate. Each chapter gives dozens of recipes, but most have only a sentence or two of explaination. And they merely rehash the information given by the the charts.

The information is useful, but not significantly different than that found in many other pagan herbalism books. If you do not own such books I recommend this book. It is as direct and useful a beginner text as exists. If you do, don't expect to learn much more from this. Happy Brewing!

If you are looking for a book on Incenses, oils, inks, soaps and more this is an absolute MUST HAVE!!! I couldn't say enough positive things about this book, an excelent addition to any witchcraft library, and FULL of benificial advise. Clear directions on how to make an entire book full of incense, oils ointments,inks, tinctures, herb baths, bath salts, brews, ritual soaps (solid & liquid), Sachets or herbal charms, powders, and there are chapters on substitutions and the considerations for making those substitutions. A chapter on empowering rites, on propotions, on creating your own recipes....
Just an all around wonderful reference book, and not a bad read either. All in all a real 10!! You finish reading a chapter and wish there was more, this book is an essential part of my library, and if you are a serious practitioner, I recomend it as an essential buy for yours...enjoy!! Blessed Be.

Mr. Cunningham teaches you how to make your own incense, annointing oils, tinctures, bath salts, ritual soaps, and much more.

Mr. Cunningham places asterisks beside dangerous plants Beladonna, Foxglove, Henbane, mistletoe and others. and in almost every case gives alternate recipes so you can get similar results without using toxic materials.

Questions or comments? E-Mail me. Two Bears.

Wah doh Ogedoda

The reason why I feel that this book doesn't deserve five stars is because some of the recipes are too weird. Some of the recipes are supposedly ancient, and I quote...

(Scott Cunningham)>>>

SPIRIT INCENSE # 2 (caution!)

root of the weedy herb Sagapen(?), juice of the Hemlock*, juice of the Henbane*, Tapsus barbatus(?), Red sandalwood, Black Poppy seed,

Fume to make spirits and strange shapes appear. To make them flee, add parsley to this mixture, as this chases away all spirits and destroys all visions (which seems to contradict Spirit Incense #1 above!) This 50O-year-old formula is virtually impossible to compound. I included this recipe as an example of an authentic, ancient herbal incense. Most of these are as difficult to make as this one. What is the "weedy herb Sagapen"? I haven't the slightest idea!

He puts stupid recipes such as this one in his book to make Wicca look 'mysterious' and 'ancient.' The practices in Wicca are natural and don't call for 'ancient' herbs such as the weedy herb Sagapen (which I am pretty sure never existed). Most of the tools in Wicca can be found in your backyard. Don't get me wrong here. This book is full of *terrific* recipes. But don't be fooled by some of the 'ancient' herbal recipes that he included in this book.

In Part 1, this book tells you the Basics...

* On Magick * On Proportions * Empowering Rites * Ingredients * Creating Your Own Recipes

In Part 2, it gets into the actual Recipes for...

* Incense * Oils * Ointments * Inks * Tinctures * Herb Baths * Bath Salts * Brews * Ritual Soaps * Sachets or Herbal Charms * Powders * A Miscellany of Recipes

In Part 3, they have Substitutions...

* Specific Substitutions * Magickal Goals * Planetary Substitutions * Elemental Substitutions * Astrological Substitutions

Buy this book! It's pretty good =)

--Blessed Be

I've read (and owned) more Craft books of this type than I can count, this is by far the best in it's genre. I doubt I can (or should) add anything in addition to what's already been said by the many other reviewers. All I need to say is that this is the ONE book I turn to time and time again without fail. My copy is dog-eared, stained, wrinkled, spotted, written in, tabbed and highlighted; well worn from many years of loving use. It's truly a master work by one of the best in the business, if not THE best. If you don't have this, you're doing yourself a dissatisfaction. Get it, read it, learn it, love it and keep it close to your heart and your Craft, you won't be sorry.

This book belongs in every occultist's library. Cunningham has left no stone unturned in his presentation of correspondences and substitutions. The book consists of several sections, each devoted to a specific topic, i.e., incenses, soaps, oils, brews, etc. Each section is alphabetically subdivided by purpose, astrological and plantetary influences, etc. Included for the adventurous are some recipies from older grimoires, along with safer modern blends aimed at the same goals. The incense chapter alone is worth the price of the book. After reading it, you'll never be dependent upon headshop joss sticks and cones again. Also included is a listing of sources for materials. In short, this book is an invaluable reference work, and belongs on every practicing magicians's bookshelf.

I found this book very informative for those wishing to make their own brews and potions. I enjoyed reading it and have put some of the formulas into action. I use the oils and soaps when I'm feeling the need to recharge. Also great information on herbs and such. If you're into making your own things and using them or giving them as gifts then this book is for you. You won't go wrong buying this book.

This is the first book I read about Wicca and of Scott Cunningham. He is thorough with his explainations on each recipe - the substitution list alone is worth the price of the book. If you are new to wicca, exploring wicca or have been practicing for many years, this book is a constant you will return to again and again. The references contain good information to assist you in further exploration. I especially appreciate his openness. He is not at all pretentious as I have read in other books. Scott encourages you to be creative, free thinking and not to be constantly worrying about "getting it right". A very down to earth writer who knows his subject well and communicates it in such a way to get your "magical kitchen" started. May all who read this book find the "magic" in everyday things!

Cunningham has compiled an excellent reference book for anyone interested in Aromatherapy, Homeopathy, Wicca, Paganism, Kitchen-Witchery, or just plain do-it-yourselfers that find store bought products either too expensive or lacking in their ability to suit a specific need. The substitution tables in the back of the book alone are worth the price of the book, but the recipies he offers are also quite a delight for the mind and the senses. The feeling of accomplishment one recieves from creating their own products is wonderful, and they make great gifts as well, with that honest, heartfelt touch people love. If you are thinking of toying with herbal blends, this is the perfect place to start. If you don't have what is called for, plenty of other choices are offered, and, once you begin to build up a good supply of herbs, this book offers options for all sorts of different conditions. If it weren't for this book, I would never have started making incense. Now people are asking me to teach them! I owe it all to this wonderful book!