Pine oil

The god Dionysus carried a thyrsus, a fennel staff crowned with a pine cone, and the cone at its tip was a sign of life that does not fade.

Origin & Traditional Use

Pines are resinous evergreen conifers of the northern hemisphere. Their resin gave pitch for ships, turpentine and rosin, pine needles were burned and strewn to freshen houses, and pine oil became the classic scent of household cleaners. Evergreen boughs brought indoors at midwinter are the root of the Christmas tree custom.

Uses by Tradition

Witchcraft & Folk Magick

• Cleansing: add a capful of the oil to a floor wash and scrub towards the door to clear a house after illness, quarrels or bad luck.
• Protection: dab on the frame of the front door and the corners of each room to ward the home.
• Yule: dress a green candle with pine at midwinter for the return of the light and a prosperous new year.

Hoodoo & Rootwork

• Floor washes: pine is a favourite in cleaning-style floor washes used to clear crossed conditions from a house before a blessing.
• Money: dress a green candle with pine for steady, slow-growing income.

A Simple Working

• Fill a bucket with warm water and add a handful of sea salt.
• Add a capful of pine oil and stir.
• Open a window and the front door.
• Mop or wipe the floors from the back of the house to the front.
• Say what is being cleared out as you work.
• Throw the water out the front door, then wipe a drop of fresh pine oil on each doorframe.
• Light a green chime candle in the kitchen to bring in steady good fortune.

Pairs Well With

• Sea salt: for a cleansing floor wash.
• A green chime candle: for prosperity after the clearing.
• Frankincense resin: for a stronger exorcism smoke.
• Rosemary oil: another protective herb for doorways.

Lore & History

In Phrygian myth the young god Attis, consort of the mother goddess Cybele, died beneath a pine, and in Roman times a felled pine was carried in procession during the spring festival of Cybele and Attis. Pine cones crown Dionysus’ thyrsus and appear on Assyrian reliefs held by winged figures. Cunningham assigns pine to Mars and Air and lists it for healing, fertility, protection, exorcism and money.

What You Receive

Pine oil in 2 dram, 1 oz and 16 oz (1 lb) sizes.