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lard is used. This process involves coating a framed sheet of glass with the fat and then placing a layer of flowers in it. Another frame of glass is placed on top of the flowers, which in turn is coated with fat on which a layer flowers is placed and so on.
    Once a day the whole array of glass frames is disassembled, the flowers picked out, and new ones placed in the same fat and then everything is stacked again. This process goes on until the fat becomes saturated with volatile oil. The number of days it takes depends on the type of flower—for jasmine it takes about 70 days. After the flowers are picked out on the final day, the fat is rinsed with alcohol to separate the oil from it. When the alcohol evaporates, an absolute is left. This type of absolute itself is sometimes called an enfleurage.
    Another product you may encounter is called an infused oil, however, this is not an
    essential oil. An infused oil is created in an easy, low-cost process by soaking plant material in warm vegetable oil to infuse it with a plant’s aroma. A very low amount of essential oil is actually released into the oil. Infusion, also called maceration, is a very old method that was used by the ancient Egyptians to extract fragrance and other plant substances for culinary and medicinal purposes. Infused oil is not a bad thing and in fact it is quite nice for cooking or using on salads. Rosemary in olive oil is one of my favorites. However, keep in mind that this is not an essential oil and it should not be priced or passed off as one.
    There are a few things to watch out for when purchasing essential oils. First, there are the synthetic oils. While these are lower in cost they are also lower in quality because they are created chemically, usually with petroleum byproducts, instead of with plant material.
    These oils may smell like the real thing but they do not carry the true essence or synergy of the natural world and will do nothing to boost magical intent. Another thing to be aware of is dilution with a carrier oil. A simple way to test for this is to put a drop of the essential oil on a piece of paper. After it evaporates there should be no trace left behind, however, an oily mark indicates the presence of a carrier oil.
    Pricing can be a red flag indicating adulterated or synthetic oil if a company’s products all cost the same. Some plants are simply more expensive than others and this is reflected in the price of essential oils. Also, anything labeled “nature-identical” is another red flag that usually indicates that an oil is synthetic or a natural oil has been adulterated with a Getting Started 27
    synthetic version. In my mind, nature means the natural world, period. There is nothing
    “identical” to it.
    A final point to note is that essential oils come from plants and not animals. Musk, civet and other oils from animals should not be classified as essential oils as they do not contain life-force essence.
    Let the Blending Begin
    The equipment needed for blending essential oils is fairly minimal. After deciding which essential oils you want to use, purchase them in small amounts as it does not take much to create blends for magic work. Store the oils in a cool, dark, and dry environment. Avoid keeping them in a bathroom or kitchen as the humidity and fluctuating temperatures of these rooms may damage the oils. Because essential oils are highly concentrated, you will also need a carrier oil (sometimes called a base oil) into which your blends will be mixed.
    (Refer to Chapter 7 for details on carrier oils.) Carrier oils are important because essential oils should never be used on the skin full strength as they may cause irritation. In addition to the essential and carrier oils, other items that you will need include:
    • Small bottles with screw-on caps for blending and storing essential oils, and for mixing with carrier oils
    • Small droppers to transfer essential and carrier oils into blending bottles
    • A dropper