Herb and Incense Substitutions for Spell Work

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Following is a list of herbs and recommended substitutions for use in spell work.

I also use these substitutions for incense of the day (see my daily magic posts if you’re interested), or any time I don’t have a specific ingredient on hand for an herbal mixture.

Primary HerbSubstitutions
CarnationRose or rose petals anointed with a few drops of clove oil
CedarSandalwood
CloveMace, nutmeg
CopalFrankincense, cedar
CypressJuniper, pine
EucalyptusLavender
FrankincenseCopal, pine resin, rosemary
HyssopLavender
IvyCinquefoil
JasmineRose
JuniperPine
LavenderRose
LemongrassLemon, lemon peel
Lemon VerbenaLemongrass, lemon, lemon peel
MaceNutmeg
MintSage
MistletoeMint, sage
MugwortWormwood
NeroliOrange
NutmegMace, cinnamon
OakmossPatchouli
OrangeTangerine, tangerine peel
PatchouliOakmoss
PeppermintSpearmint
PineJuniper
Pine resinFrankincense, copal
RoseYarrow
Rose geraniumRose
RueRosemary or rosemary mixed with a dash of black pepper
SaffronOrange, orange peel
SandalwoodCedar
SpearmintPeppermint
ThymeRosemary
VanillaWoodruff, tonka bean
WormwoodMugwort
YarrowRose
NOTE: If you don’t have an appropriate substitution for incense of the day, burning an all-purpose purifying incense like frankincense, myrrh, or rosemary is always an option. I will also burn seasonal incense blends on these days when necessary. My favorites are the Sabbat incenses by Sacred Mists on Etsy. I may also burn a floral blend on days when the incense is floral, etc. Follow your intuition.

Here are some additional guidelines for substituting herbs for incense and other herbal preparations:

  • Rosemary can be substituted for any other herb
  • Rose can be substituted for any other flower
  • Frankincense can be substituted for any other gum resin

The herbs listed above are only my preferred substitutions used in my personal practice, which may change or evolve over time as I work with the energies of different plants.

In magic, as in life, nothing is set in stone. Use your own intuition to find substitutions that feel right to you. There are no rules, no right and wrong – only energies we work with to achieve desired goals. And only you can decide if a particular correspondence works for your purposes.

Happy spellcrafting! 💚

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