Witchy Recipes

Cucumber Milk
4 ounces oil of sweet almonds
10 ounces juice of fresh cucumbers
3 ounces essence of cucumbers
1/4 ounce white Castile soap, powdered
2/3 drachm tincture of benzoin
The juice of the cucumbers is made by boiling the slices in a very little
water, strain through a fine cloth. Make the essnece by mixing 1 1/2 ounces
of the juice with 1 1/2 ounces alcohol (in this case, use strong vodka).
Dissolve the soap in the essence, add the juice, shake well until thoroughly
mixed; pour into a bowl and add the oil and the tincture, beating well until
you have a milky liquid. Bottle. (I would keep this refrigerated)
She states that this lotion is a specific for sensitive skins, redness,
sunburn and roughness.

For Summer Rash (prickly heat rash)
7 ounces elder-flower water
1 ounce glycerine
1/2 drachm borax
Apply night and morning.

Vinaigre des Quatre Voleurs
1 ounce lavender flowers
3/4 ounce each of: rosemary, thyme, rue, sage, wormwood, mint
1 drachm each of: calamus, nutmegs, cloves, cinnamon
1 drachm camphor (not mothballs)
2 ounces alcohol
1 quart strong wine vinegar
Dissolve the camphor in the alcohol, then add the herbs, spices and vinegar;
let stand 10 days, strain.

Aromatic Toilet Vinegar
1 pint spirits of wine (substitute strong vodka)
1/2 pint strong vinegar
1 1/2 ounces gum benzoin
1/2 ounce balsam of Peru
1/2 drachm oil of neroli (orange flower)
1/2 drachm oil of mace
Steep 1 week, then filter.

These vinegars were used as refreshing toners, by adding a few drops to a
glass of water to rinse the face, or by saturating a cotton wad and
inserting in a "vinaigrette", a small glass flacon carried and smelled when
one was feeling faint or to relieve a headache.

from "The Woman Beautiful" by Ella Adelia Fletcher, circa 1901

This is regarded as a potent flower potion, because carnations were used to spice up wines and foods and were also a symbol of passionate love to the Romans - and to modern Italians. They have a wonderful clove-like taste, but you must use the real thing - called clove pink or clove carnation. Sipping this with someone you like quite well could move the relationship on to a higher plateau


You will need:

1 cinnamon stick

petals from about 6 clove carnations (approx. 100g fresh flowers)

a pinch of ground ginger

100g brown sugar

500ml spring water

a few drops of glycerin

sparkling mineral water or lemonade to serve


Put the first five ingredients in a saucepan and bring very slowly to the boil, stirring constantly. Reduce the heat and simmer for about ten minutes, when the syrup begins to thicken, remove from the heat and cool. Add a few drops of glycerin, and the mixture will become pinker. Make up your potion by straining about 30ml of this liquid into a glass and topping up with sparkling water or lemonade. If you're not a teetotaler it is also delicious added to champagne - and will turn it a gentle rose color

(can be used to help fight foot fungus and yeast from athletes foot)
4 1/4 cups of water
10 cinnamon sticks - whole
Place water and cinnamon sticks in a pan. Bring to pan to a boil , cover then turn down heat and simmer the mixture for 10 minutes. Remove from heat and let cinnamon sticks steep in the hot water for an hour longer.
Soak your feet in the solution for 20 minutes. This foot bath will not only make your room and your feet smell wonderful but it will help you to fight fungal and yeast infections too!