Magickal Substitutions
If you have a spell and you don’t have all the ingredients, you may be able to swap out one thing for another. Check this list to see if you can substitute your hard-to-find item with something easier to obtain. Make sure you research your substitutions to make sure they really are what you’re looking for and listen to your own intuition. Herbs can be used for different purposes and it’s a good idea to thoroughly research the herb you’re trying to substitute to determine its purpose in the spell and then thoroughly research potential substitutes for true compatibility. You can’t just swap out one thing for another without really considering its purpose.
If you can’t find what you’re looking for here, find out the planetary correspondence of the item you’re looking to substitute and visit that planet’s page as a starting point. Ingredients that correspond to the same planet carry similar energies and can sometimes be used for the same purpose in a spell. As already mentioned, it is important that you understand the reason for the ingredient in the spell before you make a substitution.
Keep in mind that these substitutions are for magic and spellwork only and should not be relied upon for healing or culinary use.
| Ingredient | Possible Substitutes |
|---|---|
| Acacia | Gum Arabic (Is made from acacia) |
| Aconite | Tobacco |
| Allspice | Cassia, Cinnamon, Cloves, Mace, Nutmeg |
| Ambergris | Cypress and Patchouli |
| Asafetida | garlic, onion, neem, gum ammonium |
| Bergamot | grapefruit |
| Balm of Gilead | Rose, gum mastic |
| Belladona | Rose, Tomato |
| Baneful Herbs (Any) | Tobacco |
| Benzoin | Gum Arabic, Gum Mastic |
| Blood | Copal, Bloodroot sap, Pokeweed berry juice, Dragon's Blood |
| Bluestone | Bluing balls |
| Cachana | Angelica |
| Camphor | Eucalyptus, Lavender |
| Carnation | Rose combined with cinnamon |
| Cassia | Cinnamon |
| Cadar | Sandalwood |
| Cinnabar | Dragon's Blood |
| Cinquefoil | Clover, trefoil |
| Citron | Orange and Lemon Peels combined |
| Cloves | Nutmeg, Mace |
| Clover | Cinquefoil |
| Copal | Frankincense, cedar |
| Cowbane | Tobacco |
| Crystals (Any) | Quartz Crystal |
| Cypress | Juniper, Pine |
| Deer's Tongue | Tonka, Woodruff, Vanilla |
| Dittany of Crete | Gum Mastic |
| Dragon's Blood | Blend together Frankincense and Red Sandalwood |
| Eucalyptus | Camphor and Lavender |
| Euphorbium | Tobacco |
| Flowers (Any) | Rose |
| Galangal | Ginger root |
| Grains of Paradise | Black Pepper |
| Gum Arabic | Frankincense, Gum Mastic |
| Gum Ammoniac | Asafetida |
| Gum Bdellium | Copal, Pine, Dragon's Blood |
| Gum Resin (Any) | Frankincense, Copal |
| Hellebore | Tobacco, Nettles |
| Hemlock | Tobacco |
| Hemp | Nutmeg, Damiana, Star Anise, Bay Laurel |
| Henbane | Tobacco |
| Herb (any) | Rosemary |
| Hyssop | Lavender, Anise |
| Ivy | Cinquefoil |
| Jasmine | Rose |
| Juniper | Pine, Cedar |
| Labdanum | Hibiscus |
| Lavender | Rose |
| Lemongrass | Lemon peel, pelargonium, lemon verbena |
| Lemon Verbena | Lemon grass, lemon peel |
| Lady's Slipper | Valerian, California Poppy, Passion Flower, Lemon Balm, Skullcap |
| Mace | Nutmeg |
| Mandrake | Tobacco, Mayapple |
| Mercury | Aluminum |
| Mint (any) | Sage |
| Mistletoe | Mint, Sage |
| Mugwort | Wormwood, Southernwood |
| Nightshade | Tobacco, Tomato |
| Nutmeg | Mace, Cinnamon, Pelargonium |
| Oakmoss | Patchouli |
| Orange | Tangerine, Pelargonium |
| Orange Flowers | Orange Peel |
| Patchouli | Oak Moss |
| Peppermint | Spearmint |
| Pepperwort | Rue, Grains of Paradise, Black Pepper |
| Pine | Juniper |
| Pine Resin | Frankincense, Copal |
| Rose | Yarrow, Rose Geranium, Rose Attar |
| Geranium | Rose |
| Ruby | Garnet |
| Rue | Rosemary + a dash of Black Pepper |
| Saffron | Orange Peel |
| Sandalwood | Cedar |
| Sarsparilla | Sassafrass |
| Sassafrass | Sarsparilla |
| Spearmint | Peppermint |
| Sulfur | Clubmoss, Asafatida, Tobacco |
| Thyme | Rosemary |
| Tobacco | Bay Laurel |
| Tonka Bean | Dear Tongue, Woodruff, Vanilla Bean |
| Topaz | Citrine |
| Trefoil | Cinquefoil |
| Vetivert | Calamus |
| Vanilla | Woodruff, Deer Tongue, Tonka |
| Valerian | Asafetida |
| Willow | Poplar |
| Wolfsbane | Tobacco |
| Wood Aloe | Sandalwood, Ambergris |
| Woodruff | Vanilla, Deer Tongue |
| Wormwood | Mugwort |
| Yarrow | Rose |
| Yew | Tobacco |
Sources and More Information:
- The Complete Guide to Oils, Incense and Brews, by Scott Cunningham
- Magickal Ingredient Substitutions from Zindoki.com
When doing a reverse hex spell what can I use instead of a apple twig. I live in the south we don’t have apple trees around here thank you
Apple wood is not specifically used for hex breaking or reversing as it is a Venus tree, generally used for more peaceable applications. While it is difficult to say without seeing the actual spell, I suspect the apple wand was used for the sake of expediency, it being immediately available to the writer of the spell, rather than for its specific magical vibrations. Or it may have been used to bring a peacemaking element into it, or to nullify Mars energy. If the latter is the case, then any Venus wood can be used. I think Poplar would be ideal here, even moreso than apple. Birch, elder, hawthorn, honey locust or oak can be used, if you’re looking for more of a whomping stick.
Oh thank you very VERY much! I was feeling the oak!! Which is easily accessible? FABULOU ! Thank you again for your time I truly appreciate this!! BLESSED BE ?
What can I use in place of red precipitate (precipitado rojo)
Or
How do I make my own
Probably cinnamon or cayenne pepper would be a suitable substitute if you’re using it for a spell. Old-time red precipitate is mercuric oxide and not safe to try to manufacture on your own, but homemade versions often contain hot things, like cayenne and something like gun powder.
What can i substitute with rosemary as i know rosemary substitues every herb but can i use somethinf else in rosemaries place
That would depend on the purpose of the rosemary in the spell.
Substitutions for chamomile?
What are you using it for?
I understand different people have different take on magic uses and I have only recently changed my thinking after 7 years regarding the use of negative spells. I am a very kind person, wouldn’t kill spiders or flies, however, after a course of devistating events of burglary, difficulty in court, money issues, assaults, and rape, I strongly believe were brought on by someone using black magic on me, and at this point have considered a revenge spell.
So patchouli leaves. This is included in the spell, but due to this course of bad luck I mentioned, the bag of patchouli leaves I had I do not have now, and am wondering if I can use any replacement I might have at home, can I use patchouli oil, etc…I appreciate any feedback.
Thank you.
I don’t know how the leaves are being used in the spell, but oils and powders generally work as well.
Did my last comment need approval?
All comments need approval.
I’m doing a truth jar spell and don’t have calamus root. What can I substitute?
Vetiver is listed here on the chart though it has some different qualities. It depends, as always, on the specific qualities you’re using the herb to bring into the spell. I think most Sun herbs could be utilized, as the Sun is the great revealer. Hyacinths are associated with truth and their shape is kind of similar (grass like) so they should work too.
What are your thoughts on using seeds in a spell (like a jar or anointing a candle), rather than the grown plant? I find it hard to find certain flowers, but I can easily look in my seed binder for seeds (or purchase some). Does the ingredient in seed form change the potency of a spell?
Personally, I find the tactile experience of handling the plant to be a big part of the spell. Seeds are a different experience. THey are useful, of course, but it is different. The feel, smell of them. Also, it is important to note that different parts of plants have different correspondences. The root, thorns, petals, and seeds of a single plant may each be used for a completely different thing.
But really, if you have seeds, you’re just a few months away from the plant.
What can be used to substitute black flower petals or a single black flower petal?
I think probably anything black that’s about the right size and feels lovely and nice. If a specific plant isn’t called for, it’s just about the color and the fact that flowers are pretty.
What can be substituted for rose thorns? Would rose petals or flower petals do?
No. Thorns are sharp. So you would replace them with something sharp, like a needle or a pin or a nail.
What can be substituted as rose quartz? I don’t have any crystals that i can use for spells (not even clear quartz).
I have never used a crystal in a spell.