Rosemary

Quality Rosemary Oil is a pale yellow or almost colorless liquid of strong, fresh, woody-herbaceous, somewhat minty and forest like odor. The “high'' fresh notes vanish quickly, yielding to a clean, woody balsamic body note which tones out in a dry herbaceous, but very pleasant and tenacious, bitter-sweet note.

For “Rosemary Flower Oil”, upon distillation, this yields a very fine and delicate perfume oil, excellent for use in colognes, lavender waters, etc. Characteristic of poorer oils is the pronounced camphoraceous cinepolis note which is different from the herbaceous: it is coarser, less delicate, less pleasant. These oils usually display a dryout note reminiscent of eucalyptus residues (oily, resinous, rancid), sweeter and less woody than the note from good oils.

Apart from a very high amount of monoterpenes, rosemary oil contains a significant amount of Borneol, a crystalline terpene alcohol, but this is also the main oxygenated component of the oil. Rosemary oil is, accordingly, not very soluble in diluted alcohol (below 80%), but as a low boiling and fresh smelling oil it has good effect as a masking agent, particularly for phenolic or tar-like odors; it blends well with lavandin, lavender, citronella, origanum or thyme, pine, coumarin, labdanum, olibanum, elemi, terpinyl propionate, isobornyl propionate, cedarwood and derivatives, methyl ionones, petitgrain, nitromusks, etc.

Rosemary Oil is occasionally adulterated with White Camphor Oil, or with head fractions from the rectification of Spanish eucalyptus oil; furthermore, with turpentine fractions, fractions from the production of synthetic terpineol, light cedarwood fractions, etc. Contamination can also occur with oil from the plant Salvia Lavandulaefolia, or Spanish Sage, which contains large amounts of cineole / eucalyptol.

Rosemary is vitalizing and used in healing rituals. Rosemary and Juniper burned together is a healing and recuperation incense; It aids mental powers when rubbed onto the temples, and also eases headaches in the same way. Wear a chaplet of rosemary to aid the memory- or drink rosemary tea just before a test or exam to ensure that the mind is fully awake. It also promotes prudence, common sense, and self-assurance; It is protective and purifying. Make a simple of Rosemary to cleanse the hands before working magic, if there's no time for a regular pre-ritual bath; Include a sprig in protection workings. It is often used to form a protection wreath, as well. When hung in any form it wards off thieves; Rosemary also has connections with the sea and so is used in sea rituals, and to ensure a safe water passage.

Many Witches also add a vase of fresh flowers and / or greens to give extra life to their Altars. This is an excellent idea, especially if you also insert a few sprigs of herbs appropriate to the rite- such as a little rosemary for a rite of protection.

It was once said that “Where rosemary grows, the woman rules”- meaning the plant only flourished where the woman was the head of the household.

Herbs that require a longer germination period, such as rosemary, are great for starting indoors. Straw bales set around tender herbs such as rosemary provide insulation to help get them through the cold months. Remember, you can pot up herbs such as rosemary that might not survive outdoors and bring them inside for continuous use.

Use rosemary in all your favorite Mediterranean recipes, including stews, grilled and roasted meat dishes, sauces, and breads.

Rosemary has antibacterial properties and helps relieves stress.

In magick, Rosemary purifies and rejuvenates stagnant energies. Use it for remembrance, clarity, purification, protection, love, lust, fertility, and dispelling nightmares; rosemary has long been used in love spells and was worn in chaplets by medieval brides. Known also by the folk name “elf leaf”, it can be grown in the garden to attract Elves. And with its strong ties to the sea, use it in sea witchery. Rosemary also has a history with divination, funerary practices, and communication with the spirit world.

Apples and Rosemary were a common Christmas decoration in the 18th century in Ripon, often carried by Choirboys and offered in exchange for payment.

It was also a symbol of fidelity in love and featured (along with Thyme) in marriage divinations performed on Saint Agnes' Night. On Halloween it was placed beneath the pillow instead to bring dreams of one's future Husband. Young Welsh men would tie sprigs of Rosemary with white ribbons and leave them at the bedroom windows of women they were interested in on May Day. Rosemary was, at one time, common decoration at weddings as a symbol of fidelity in love- and "Rosemary bound with Ribbons" was a token of a Bride's love for the Groom. Polish brides and grooms both wore small wreaths of Rosemary on their wedding day (it was blessed by the Priest and then carefully saved to be infused in their child's first bath). As late as 1700, marital beds were still being decorated with it, and it was still being prescribed for barenness of the womb.

It was used alongside Box as a funerary plant, and worn and carried as a symbol of remembrance for the dead at English funerals. In Lincolnshire it was customary to place it on the breast of the corpse. And before Poppies, it was one of the original symbols for Armistice Day ceremonies.

In parts of Spain it was worn as an antidote to the Evil Eye. Its association with Mary in particular led to it being planted near the house "so that no witch could harm you". In Jamaica it was a banishing herb for haunting spirits. It was a protector against diseases as well, even as a charm- especially against the plague in Sarajevo; a remedy for illenss caushed by witchcraft included Balm, Rosemary, and Gold flowers together in a bag on the patient's breast- and the same mixed with Ale and their own blood, taken internally.

In Portugal and Sicily it is "a fairy plant". Alongside Sage and Lavender, a flourishing Rosemary plant shows that "The Mistress of the house is the Master". In French Floriography it meant Rejeuvenation and the power of rekingling lost energy. So much as smelling it was sometimes believed to preserve one's youth.