What Is a Potion in Witchcraft?
What is a witchcraft potion?
A witchcraft potion is a liquid infused with herbs, oils or crystals and charged with an intention, then used to carry that intention into a spell, a space or the body. It can be an anointing oil, a spray, a bath blend, a tea or a sealed elixir kept on the altar.
Herbal brews have been part of folk magic for as long as there have been healers. Cunning folk and village wise women across Europe made remedies, love philtres and protective washes, and the cauldron became the witch's best known tool because so much of the work happened over the fire.
Modern potion craft keeps that spirit but puts safety first. Herbs that are perfectly fine in a jar or bath can be harmful to drink, so internal potions are the exception rather than the rule.
Types of Potions and How to Use Them
| Type | Base | How it is used |
|---|---|---|
| Anointing oil | Carrier oil such as almond or jojoba | Dressing candles, tools, charms and pulse points |
| Ritual spray | Water and witch hazel or vodka | Cleansing rooms, altars and your aura |
| Bath potion | Salt, herbs and a little oil | Soaking in the spell before ritual or sleep |
| Floor or door wash | Water and vinegar with herbs | Protecting thresholds and clearing heavy energy |
| Herbal tea | Hot water and food safe herbs | Drinking, only with herbs known to be safe to consume |
What Do You Need to Make a Potion?
- A vessel: a small cauldron, saucepan or heatproof bowl kept for magical use.
- Glass bottles: clean, dark glass keeps oils fresher for longer.
- Dried herbs: lavender, rosemary, rose petals, bay and chamomile cover most beginner recipes.
- A base: spring or moon water, carrier oil, witch hazel or apple cider vinegar.
- Optional extras: a small tumbled crystal, a pinch of salt, a written intention for the label.
Find bottles and brewing vessels in our apothecary and cauldrons collections, and dried herbs in herbs and botanicals.
How Do You Make a Potion?
How to brew a simple potion
20 minutes, plus cooling time.
Cleanse your space and tools. Wash everything, then pass the tools through smoke or sprinkle them with salt.
Set the intention. Say aloud or write down exactly what the potion is for.
Add the herbs one at a time. Hold each one, state what it brings, then add it to the warm base.
Stir with purpose. Stir clockwise to draw something in, or anticlockwise to banish, while repeating a short chant.
Steep and strain. Let water potions steep for ten minutes; let oils infuse in a sealed jar for one to two weeks. Strain into a clean bottle.
Label and store. Write the purpose and date on the bottle and keep it somewhere cool and dark.
Water based potions without alcohol or vinegar spoil within a few days. Keep them in the fridge and make small batches.
Three Beginner Potion Recipes
Protection floor wash
Steep a handful of rosemary and two bay leaves in a litre of hot water, add a pinch of salt and a splash of vinegar, then strain. Wipe the front doorstep and window sills from the inside out while stating that only welcome energy may enter.
Calm and clarity room spray
Steep a tablespoon of dried lavender and a teaspoon of chamomile in half a cup of hot water. Cool, strain and mix with half a cup of witch hazel in a spray bottle. Mist the room before meditation or sleep.
Rose love anointing oil
Half fill a small jar with dried rose petals, add a pinch of cinnamon and top up with almond oil. Seal and leave on a sunny windowsill for two weeks, shaking daily, then strain. Use it to dress pink candles or dab a little on your wrists before self love rituals. Patch test first.
Potion safety
Never drink a potion unless every ingredient is known to be safe to consume, and check with a health professional if you are pregnant or take medication. Patch test oils on your skin, keep potions away from children and pets, and respect local rules on harvesting wild plants.
Potion Questions Answered
Do you have to drink a potion for it to work?
No. Most witchcraft potions are used externally as oils, sprays, baths or washes, or kept sealed on the altar. The intention and the act of making it are what matter.
How long do homemade potions last?
Plain water potions last a few days in the fridge. Sprays with witch hazel or alcohol keep for several weeks, and herbal oils kept cool and dark usually last six months or more.
What is the difference between a potion and a spell jar?
A potion is liquid and is usually used up, while a spell jar is a sealed collection of dry ingredients kept intact for as long as the intention lasts. See our spell jars guide.
What can I use instead of moon water?
Spring water, rain water or filtered tap water all work. Moon water simply adds lunar energy charged under the moon.
Stock Your Potion Shelf
Bottles, cauldrons, dried herbs and ritual oils for brewing your own magic. Australian owned, shipping worldwide.
