T

TAME — Although potions like Stay At Home and Unfaithful are reputed to control infidelity within a marriage, this oil may be used by people who aren’t bound by marriage vows to inspire loyalty. Touch your lover with a little bit of this oil, or use on a red or orange candle representing your lover. (O)

TAR — Tar is an oil designed to intrude an endless parade of “sticky” situations into someone’s life. Essentially it is a karmic oil, designed to reverse a person’s ill intentions and send them foursquare back at them. In many ways, this oil is similar in effect to Weed of Misfortune. Use with black candles only. (O)

THIEF — This is a single-purpose oil, designed to expose a thief and, quite often, to get your property returned. It is said to reveal the villain within seven days. If someone has intentionally ripped you off and you know who it is,  this oil can be quite devastating in its effects. Composed of highly spiritual oils, this is a "judgment" oil, but it proceeds from the highest spiritual vibrations. I've noticed that the impact of this oil is often far worse than a hexing oil! Once you use the oil on a thief, it seems to stick with them, even if they eventually repay you. Use on a white or purple candle. (O)

• THINK OF ME (Piensa en Mi) — Use this oil on a red candle representing your loved one to cause him/her to think of you all day long. (O)

• THRIFTY — This is one of every practitioner’s favorites. If you know a tightwad (such as your boss) who nickels and dimes you to the point of despair, employ some Thrifty and you may be surprised to discover he/she develops a powerful desire to spend money on your behalf! Use with purple, yellow or green candles. Because this fragrance has such a specific function, you normally don’t use it in combination with another recipe. (O)

THYME — See White Thyme.

TIGER — Tiger is considered to be one of the most “psychic” of the New Orleans incenses. Tiger was originally designed for purposes of uncrossing and protection, but it is not all that selective about the nature of the “helping hands” it invokes to your altar. While it is perfectly safe when used for defensive purposes, Tiger also has a reputation as an adventuresome meditation incense, but it can invoke some real spiritual “characters” to your altar! Tiger is not normally burned in combination with other fragrances and is used with white, yellow, and purple candles. (I, O)

TOBACCO — Tobacco is used for legal problems and general protection. Considered a sacred herb by American Indians, Tobacco may be added to any oil or incense where the element of security is an issue. Tobacco can be used to bring tranquillity and order to chaotic situations. Use with white, yellow, pink or blue candles. (EO)

TONKA — In the Caribbean traditions, Tonka is considered just about the luckiest fragrance going. Many practitioners refer to Tonka as a “wishing” oil, i.e., a fragrance you employ when you want a wish to come true. Another, somewhat more arcane attribution of Tonka is courage, and many practitioners believe it builds will power and soothes frazzled nerves. Most importantly, because this oil is very rare, it is seldom used and gives you a magical edge. Use with white, yellow, blue, or pink candles. (I, EO)

TRANQUILLO — This Santeria oil is used for “quieting” situations that are out of control. Its function is to enforce peace and tranquillity so that divisive issues can be settled calmly. You may wear this oil when you feel nervous or upset or use to anoint yellow or blue candles. Often Tranquillo is used in combination with a protection oil. (O)

TRYST — If all you want is a one-night stand with someone, and not a long-term relationship, Tryst is the recipe to reach for. Use with red candles only. Generally, given its specific goal, Tryst is not used in combination with other incenses. Bear in mind that Tryst is a commanding as much as a love potion, so use sparingly. (O)

TUBEROSE — Tuberose is one of the strongest and sweetest floral scents available and is associated with passionate love and sexuality. Wear or use to anoint red candles (EO)

TULIP — Tulips are viewed as highly protective, particularly in financial areas. In some traditions, Tulips are associated with love, but the protective function is probably more to the point. Wear or use to anoint green or yellow candles. (EO)

TWISTING — If someone is sending a hex or bad vibes your way and you want a cheap and simple way to return their treachery, Twisting is the route to go. This is a protective, not a hexing recipe and can be used in any number of procedures where you find yourself under the gun. Burn alone or with power or uncrossing fragrances. Use with purple, red, or white candles. (O)

U

• UNCROSSING — Over the years I’ve prescribed the Uncrossing recipe hundreds of times because it is so versatile and healing. Whether the problem be health, psychological distress, or a nasty hex, the Uncrossing formula is unflaggingly helpful. It cleanses, soothes and protects the user. It is important after using Uncrossing to follow up with other incenses and oils that spawn new and stimulating events in a client’s life. Merely removing pain and sorrow is not enough; you must also trigger positive events to replace the negative issues that may have subsumed the client’s happiness. Joy, Crown of Success, Success, or Venus are good choices for follow-up fragrances once an uncrossing is complete. Uncrossing is normally used in combination with white or purple candles. White will handle most situations and you should start with that color. In the event white fails to lift the impediments, then purple candles bring greater power into play. (I, O)

UNFAITHFUL — This is similar in effect to Party’s Over and Spikenard, except it is designed not to punish an errant spouse but rather, to soothe the problems that precipitated the adultery in the first place. Normally this is used when you feel that you have played a role in sending your spouse out the door and wish to heal your marriage. Use with white, blue, pink, or yellow candles. (O)

UNFORGIVING — Similar to Easy Wrath, this oil is used to quell another person’s anger. If you have done something to inspire the rage being leveled at you, use Unforgiving on a pink or yellow candle representing the person who is angry, and Repentant oil on a candle representing yourself. (O)

UNTRUTHFUL — If you suspect that someone is being less than honest with you, add this potion to your magical repertoire. According to tradition, this recipe will expose lies. You can either burn it as a background fragrance when the suspected liar is in your presence or you can use it as part of a candle ritual to compel them to drop their deception. Burn alone or with white or purple candles. (O)

V

• VANILLA — Associated with passion, money, and luck, Vanilla is one of the world’s most popular fragrances. Excellent when used alone or in combination with other ingredients. As you might suspect, Vanilla is the main ingredient in Van Van oil. Use with yellow, green, red, or pink candles. (EO)

• VAN VAN — Van Van is probably the most famous of the New Orleans formulae and for good reason. It handles matters of luck, uncrossing, protection, and spirituality. Many practitioners use Van Van as a general purpose fragrance and burn it on a daily basis because it covers so many problems. Van Van has an exotic, sweet fragrance. The ingredients confirm a Caribbean origin for this recipe. You may burn Van Van in combination with any color candle except black. Van Van also works well in combination with other incenses because it dispels any sort of negativity that might impede a successful working. I often burn some following a client session to clear the air of psychic debris before a new client arrives. (I, O)

• VENUS — Although there are several recipes for Venus incense, I consider this the best. This formula takes both the passionate and spiritual sides of Venus into account. Use in combination with pink or red candles, depending on how hot you want a situation to get. Normally, love incenses are used to invoke new romantic or sexual partners. However, married couples will also find these fragrances helpful before and during sex. Best used in combination with Joy or Goddess of Love. (I, O)

VERBENA — See Lemon Verbena.

VERSATILE — Ever feel thwarted, frustrated, like nothing is going your way? Assuming you’re not dealing with a hex, you may wish to try Versatile. Often used by artists experiencing a creative block or by people who feel that their careers are in a rut, this formula brings in new options, new ideas, and new spiritual frequencies. Use alone or with white, pink, yellow or blue candles. Since this is a mild commanding recipe, it can be employed to transform rigid or unhealthy attitudes in another person. (O)

VESTA — Although Vesta is technically a love oil, it has a highly specific use — to inspire Platonic love and chastity. It is spiritual, protective, and has a lovely, distinctive fragrance. It may be worn or used on pink candles. (O)

VETIVERT — Also known as Khus Khus, Vetivert is a common additive in perfumes. It is associated with money, love, luck, hex-breaking, and protection against theft. Among New Orleans practitioners, Vetivert is considered one of the most “classified” secrets because in addition to the above listed attributions, it is also known to add enormous power to any oil to which it is added. Use with purple, green, and yellow candles. (EO)

VIOLET — Next to the rose, Violets have one of the sweetest personalities in the flower kingdom. Noted for love (and lust), protection, luck, tranquillity, healing and causing wishes to come true, you may use Violet oil with a white, yellow, pink, blue, or red candle, depending on your goal. (I, EO)

VOODOO — This oil is definitely NOT for novice practitioners. It is nasty, it is unpredictable, and it is always baneful. The essential message of this oil is POWER, but it isn’t fussy about which spirits it uses to achieve its effects. Since there are much safer power oils to use, I suggest employing this one only in situations where everything else has failed. Use only with black or red candles. (O)

• VOODOO NIGHTS — This oil is used primarily by women, but can also be used by men. Its effect is to cast a powerfully sexual spell over all who come in contact with its fragrance. It’s especially recommended for married couples who find that some of the sexual zing has gone out of their relationship. Wear or use with red candles only. (O)